SEMOGERERE JOINS MAO'S TEAM

Former Democratic Party president Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere yesterday offered unconditional support to DP presidential candidate Norbert Mao and pledged to join his campaign.
Sources that attended the closed-door meeting between Mr Mao (pictured) and Dr Ssemogerere at the latter’s home in Lubaga, a Kampala suburb, on Sunday told Daily Monitor yesterday that Dr Ssemogerere welcomed the party leader to his home and promised to campaign for him for the good of DP.
The DP presidential press assistant, Mr Fred Mwesigwa, confirmed Mr Mao’s visit and said his acceptance to join the campaign trail is a big step towards DP’s success. “You all know Dr Ssemogerere is a senior DP leader and one with a clean record. We want him to play a key role in our campaigns as an elder,” Mr Mwesigwa said yesterday.
Dr Ssemogerere reportedly commended Mr Mao for doing a good job, saying many Ugandans are appreciating his vigorous campaigns and for trying to reconcile the warring factions within the party. At least one of the factions still refuses to recognise Mr Mao’s leadership and has fielded a candidate, Mr Sam Lubega, to run as an independent presidential candidate.
Mr Mwesigwa said Dr Ssemogerere was committed to asking Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago and Mukono North MP Betty Nambooze back to the mainstream DP fold. The two MPs have previously held the view that the delegates conference which elected Mr Mao in Mbale was not properly constituted and as such illegal.
Dr Ssemogerere could not be reached for a comment as he was reportedly out of the country. Mr Mao while launching his campaigns urged his rivals to return to DP.