That was the mayhem that ensued Saturday evening as John Ssebaana Kizito made his final journey. In the eye of the storm was Erias Lukwago. I met the casually dressed Lord Mayor at the Mayor’s Gardens City Hall who in the aftermath of Saturday incident seemed calm. in a relaxed demeanor, he spoke confidently about the mastermind. “Hon. Norbert Mao is on assignment, he is on a mission to deliver the Democratic Party to Mr. Yoweri Museveni. He found it extremely difficult to bundle us together some of us to be put on bundle wagon to be delivered to Mwami Yoweri Museveni, it became extremely difficult for him.” In his speech, addressing mourners on Saturday, Mao was critical on dissenting voices within the party, a wave Lukwago said Mao helped to breed. “In Uganda, we have enemies of democracy and we know all their tricks.” Said, Norbert Mao.
“He has no moral authority to castigate whoever is not obedient to him, he has always been indifferent to the successful leadership we have had in the party and he has always never submitted to the leadership of the party, let him not deceive anyone right from the time Dr. Semwogerere was in charge, he even mobilized people. Actually, I remember when he was in the 6th Parliament, he was so instrumental in mobilizing colleagues in Parliament to defy Dr. Semwogerere’s leadership.” Said, Erias Lukwago. In most casing attack, he alleged Norbert Mao’s switch over in allegiance in favor of President Yoweri Museveni a wave, senior members like him have defied. “The source of his anger is the fact that we defied him in his mission to deliver the Democratic Party to Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that is the source of his anger.” Said, Erias Lukwago.
Christopher Okidi, the National Youth Leader, Uganda Democrats, regrets the incident and called on party members to restrain from such. He, however, pointed to the involvement of both camps. “Both Mao and Lukwago arrived at the venue peacefully without supporters. But you know they are key players in the politics so they have supporters. So it is their overzealous supporters who caused such commotion and not necessarily sanctioned by the two. So I think overall, members of the Democratic Party should also sober up.” Said, Christopher Okidi.
Weighing in on the incident, Presidential advisor on media, Joseph Tamale Mirundi said Lukwago knew what was coming. “If Lukwago had or was smart like me, if Lukwago had advisors, the moment he would hear that Ssebaana was dead, he would call a press conference, console the beloved family and he would reveal or disclose or say that he had a foreign engagement.” Said, Mirundi. He said that Lukwago was testing his own medicine after championing similar incidents. “Lukwago, Nambooze and others, the Baganda tribalists were fighting Mao to remove Mao from DP Presidency. You think Mao is a fool, has he forgotten these people within a very short time? Not all?” Said, Mirundi.
