Norbert Mao, Uganda’s Minister of Justice and president of the Democratic Party (DP), has strongly rejected claims that his candidacy for the Speaker of Parliament is supported by influential military figures. During a press briefing at the DP headquarters in Mengo, Mao emphasized that his campaign is solely driven by his principles and vision for the future of Parliament, not by any political alliances with military personalities.
Mao’s response comes amid widespread rumors suggesting that high-ranking military figures like Salim Saleh and Muhoozi Kainerugaba were backing his bid. He clarified that his decades-long personal relationship with General Saleh has always been centered on development work, particularly through the Salim Saleh Foundation for Humanity and the Uganda Development Forum, where he holds leadership roles. Mao stressed that these affiliations were strictly humanitarian, not political.
Addressing another point of speculation — his attendance at a recent birthday celebration for General Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Kigali, Rwanda — Mao urged the public to stop politicizing social events. “Life is about connecting with people for various reasons. Social interactions should never be twisted into political statements,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to the race for Speaker, Mao rejected rumors that he might step down. “I am here to stay. This is a contest for the future of Uganda, and I am the candidate who can bring the change we need,” he declared. Mao believes that his candidacy represents hope for Ugandans, as he aims to transform Parliament into a truly people-centered institution focused on accountability and public trust.
Mao’s reform agenda includes several initiatives designed to make Parliament more transparent and efficient. He proposed implementing electronic voting in Parliament, ensuring that the positions of Members of Parliament (MPs) are clearly visible to the public. This, he believes, would eliminate the ambiguity often associated with parliamentary decisions and hold lawmakers accountable for their choices.
Further, Mao stressed the importance of empowering MPs with better research tools, arguing that this would enhance the quality of debates and allow young people to have a more significant voice in parliamentary matters. He also called for greater public involvement in the legislative process, advocating for public hearings where citizens could share their views on proposed laws.
In addition to these reforms, Mao highlighted the need to translate the Hansard — the official verbatim record of parliamentary proceedings — into local languages. This initiative, he argued, would improve accessibility and allow more Ugandans to stay informed about the issues being debated in Parliament.
Mao’s vision for Parliament also includes a stronger, more inclusive opposition. “The opposition is an integral part of Uganda’s democracy and must be given the space to influence the national agenda,” he said. Furthermore, he called for increasing the number of parliamentary sittings to at least 150 days per year, providing more time for in-depth discussions on pressing national issues such as youth unemployment and the ongoing flooding crisis in Kampala. Mao emphasized that citizens must have a direct voice in the decisions that affect their lives.
