The Democratic Party (DP) delegates are convening today, the 18th of September 2020 for a three days National Delegates conference.
The conference will be held at Sir Samuel Baker School in Gulu District.
According to Fred Mwesigwa the party presidential press secretary, the delegates conference will elect the party president, regional vice presidents among other party leaders.
In it’s current form, the DP constitution stipulates that the party president becomes the presidential flag bearer in the general elections.
However, the question of a joint presidential candidate, a grand people’s coalition or an endorsed party presidential candidate for the 2021 general elections will be discussed at the delegates conference.
While speaking to smlnews.ug, Mwesigwa said the conference will also discuss the matter of ammending the party constitution to reduce the number of delegates at the National conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
He said there will also be discussion on ammending the party constitution to make the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) which is the party’s youth wing semi autonomous. There are plans to make the party’s women’s league semi autonomous too.
Mwesigwa said that Uganda Police was notified about the development as per regulations to hold gatherings and cleared the three days event.
He however said they were asked to reduce the number of the delegates from the planned 1,300 to 400.
Nobert Mao who has been at the helm of this party since 2010 is the only candidate who was nominated for the party presidency slot.
The Uganda’s oldest political party has been led before by the late John Ssebaana Kizito who took over from Paul Ssemwogere in 2005.