Kampala – Uganda
The Constitutional Court has dismissed a petition filed by members of the Democratic Party (DP) challenging the cooperation agreement signed between DP President Norbert Mao and President Yoweri Museveni.
The petitioners argued that Mao’s decision to enter into the agreement violated the DP constitution and undermined the party’s independence. They claimed the deal amounted to surrendering the opposition party to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
A panel of five judges, led by Justice Monica Mugenyi, ruled that the agreement was valid and consistent with the Political Parties and Organizations Act. The Court emphasized that political parties are legally permitted to form alliances and cooperation agreements, provided they follow the law.
The DP members who filed the case expressed disappointment with the ruling, declaring their intention to appeal to the Supreme Court. They insisted that the Constitutional Court had failed to deliver justice and maintained that the agreement undermines multiparty democracy in Uganda.
Norbert Mao has defended the cooperation deal, stressing that it was approved by the party’s National Council and remains subject to review. He reassured members that “DP is not for sale” and argued that the arrangement gives the party a platform to influence governance from within.
The agreement has already reshaped Uganda’s political landscape. For the first time in its history, the DP did not field a presidential candidate in the 2026 elections, instead backing President Museveni as part of the cooperation deal. This move has sparked debate about whether the alliance strengthens DP’s relevance in national politics or erodes its role as an opposition party.
