He’s Like a Cheating Wife’ — Nambooze Tears Into Mao’s Speaker Bid

Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze has sharply criticised Democratic Party president Norbert Mao over his bid for Speaker of the 12th Parliament, accusing him of abandoning opposition politics while maintaining leadership of an opposition party.

Veteran opposition politician and Mukono Municipality MP, Betty Nambooze, has launched a scathing attack on Democratic Party (DP) leader Norbert Mao over his bid for the Speakership of the 12th Parliament, questioning his loyalty to the opposition.

Nambooze likened Mao’s political conduct to “a wedded woman cheating on her husband,” accusing him of aligning himself with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) while still leading an opposition party.

Speaking to journalists at Parliament, the outspoken legislator and former DP member accused Mao of abandoning the opposition cause despite remaining at the helm of the Democratic Party.

“I was in DP before. It’s a good party when you look at its constitution and I am sure if it was run well, NUP wouldn’t be there as we would all be in it,” Ms Nambooze said.

“But Mao is like a wedded woman who runs from her husband to go into prostitution. He is in NRM seeking for speakership yet he is leading another party,” she added.

Mao, who currently serves as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs in President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s government, recently declared his interest in the Speakership race after receiving endorsement from the DP leadership.

His candidature has since sparked debate within both opposition circles and the ruling party, with critics questioning whether he still represents opposition ideals following the cooperation agreement signed between DP and the NRM government.

Nambooze argued that Mao’s close working relationship with the ruling establishment undermines the Democratic Party’s credibility as an opposition political organisation.

“He was given party presidency and instead of running for Presidency of the country, he went and supported Museveni,” she said.

“Why doesn’t he leave DP and go and get married in NRM? He is both interested in DP and NRM and I doubt he deserves to be Speaker.”

The Mukono Municipality MP further maintained that if Mao genuinely considered himself part of the opposition, he should be positioning himself within opposition parliamentary structures rather than seeking support from the ruling side.

“What concerns me is that we count DP as part of Opposition, yet its leader Mao is siding with the ruling party,” she said.

“If he were part of Opposition, he should now be seeking shadow minister positions. He should be calling Robert Kyagulanyi for shadow minister.”

Mao’s bid has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests ahead of the first sitting of the 12th Parliament.

The Democratic Party has framed his candidacy as an opportunity to reform Parliament and strengthen accountability. However, critics argue that the move may face significant political hurdles given the NRM’s numerical dominance in the House.

The minister recently stirred further debate after describing incumbent Speaker Anita Among as an “accidental Speaker,” remarks that attracted sharp reactions from sections of the political class and her supporters.

The Speakership race is expected to intensify in the coming months as political parties position themselves ahead of the opening of the 12th Parliament.