The ongoing power struggle within the Democratic Party (DP) has reached a new high as Norbert Mao, the party’s president general, continues to fight legal battles to gain acceptance in his very own party.

In the latest contestation, the youth wing- Uganda Young Democrats (UYD), filed a lawsuit claiming that the election of Mao and his team during the controversial 12th National Delegates Conference in Mbarara in May 2025 was marred by ballot stuffing and unlawful detentions of delegates.

However, the Mbarara High Court ruled in favor of Mao’s leadership, dismissing the case and ordering the petitioners to pay the costs incurred by the party.

Mao, who watched in silence for quite a long time finally in a press conference on September 16, 2025 lashed out harsh and unremorseful sentiments vowing to hold each one of the UYD members accountable for consequences of their actions

According to him, for a long time DP has been dragged to court by party members but this time they will not forgive the Uganda young democrats youth leaders but will ask them to pay the ordered court costs to the party.

“Mbarara court dismissed the case and awarded them costs which this time the petitioners will have to pay. We as DP we have always been forgiving these fellows who have been taking DP to court but this time we are going to demand that they pay costs,” he said.

Mao said that the case which was dismissed in the high court in Mbarara had a big cost implication on the party and as the petitioners try to appeal, DP will take other steps.

“We hear they want to appeal. We shall ask our lawyers to ask them to deposit costs to court so that they pay the costs after losing. We have been nice for a long time and we have forgiven them before for suing the party but this time we shall not forgive, ” Mao warned.

Mao asked DP party members to remain disciplined and follow the core values of the party pledging loyalty to the elected leadership from the delegates conference.

“Even me when I came to DP there must have been things, I didn’t agree with but I kept silent. Some of you pretend to be important and you joined the party yesterday and now you want to lecture party leaders. How do you come and you want to lecture Mao on how to manage DP?” Mao questioned.

Meanwhile, DP risks deepening the generational rift that has long haunted the party. What should be a struggle for renewal has instead become a tug-of-war of bruised egos.

The UYD is yet to respond to the results of the court ruling.