The President General of the Democratic Party, Norbert Mao, has urged opposition political leaders to engage in dialogue with the ruling party NRM to settle long standing issues.

Mao, who is also the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, made the remarks while addressing journalists at the DP headquarters in Kampala. Mao dismissed reports that he had sold out to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.     

Mao also addressed the contentious matter of the release on bail of MPs Allan Ssewanyana and Muhammad Ssegirinya.

The President General of the Democratic Party, Norbert Mao, addressed a rare media conference at the party headquarters where he condemned what he referred to as the hypocrisy and selfishness among some opposition politicians who consider the ruling party NRM party as their enemies instead of engaging in dialogue with it.

On the now contentious matter of the granting of bail by the High Court to Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana and Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, Mao said bail is a constitutional right to which every citizen is entitled. He questioned why court denied the MPs bail and kept them on remand for 17 months.

The MPs are battling a series of charges including murder, attempted murder, aiding and abetting terrorism stemming from the Greater Masaka machete killings between March and June 2021, which claimed more than 20 people.

Meanwhile, Mao also said that the Democratic Party will embark on a huge mobilisation drive to reclaim its position as the dominant political party in Kampala and some parts of the country.

In July 2022, the DP signed a cooperation agreement with the NRM party which saw President Yoweri Museveni, appoint Mao, one of his fiercest critics, as the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. According to the agreement, more senior DP members are expected to be appointed to cabinet.