Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao has endorsed the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) for its decision to back Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for President, in remarks that have sparked fresh debate about Uganda’s political succession.
Mao, who also serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, expressed his position in a letter dated September 7, 2026, addressed to PLU General Secretary Fadil Twalla.
In the letter, Mao congratulated PLU on the launch of its website, the introduction of Patriotic Officers Identification Cards and the unveiling of endorsements for Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to become President.
“I congratulate you for launching the PLU Website, the Patriotic Officers Identification Cards and the launch of the endorsements of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for President,” Mao said.
Although Mao did not attend the PLU event because he was in Gulu, he said he stood in solidarity with the organisation and described its latest developments as a significant turning point.
Mao traced the evolution of PLU through different stages, beginning with the MK Movement before it became the MK Army and later transformed into the Patriotic League of Uganda.
According to Mao, the MK Movement was associated with Gen Kainerugaba’s dissatisfaction with what he considered failures by the state to respond decisively to challenges facing the country.
He said the MK Army later sought to respond to violence and what he described as “hooliganism” during public gatherings and elections.
Mao said PLU has now developed into a platform for citizens who are looking for what he described as effective governance, where political interests do not interfere with service delivery and the achievement of results.
His comments come as PLU continues to expand its structures and present itself as a political mobilisation organisation with activities across different parts of Uganda.
The organisation’s endorsement of Gen Kainerugaba has placed it firmly within discussions about Uganda’s political future and who could lead the country beyond President Yoweri Museveni.
Gen Kainerugaba, who is President Museveni’s son and the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces, has increasingly featured in conversations about the country’s future leadership.
His involvement in political activities has also generated controversy over the years, particularly because he has simultaneously held a senior position in the military.
PLU emerged from the MK Movement and has since worked to establish structures at grassroots level through mobilisation activities, community engagements and the appointment of local leaders.
Mao’s comments are politically notable because the Democratic Party is among Uganda’s oldest political parties and has historically been associated with the country’s opposition politics.
However, his letter does not formally announce an alliance between DP and PLU. Instead, Mao called for more discussions and expressed his willingness to work with the organisation in solidarity.
“I look forward to more discussions between our two organizations as we strive to work in solidarity to build a better and stronger Uganda,” he said.
The remarks have nevertheless raised questions about whether Mao’s position could eventually lead to closer political cooperation between the Democratic Party and PLU.
The timing of the statement is also significant, coming as political organisations begin positioning themselves for Uganda’s political landscape beyond the 2026 general elections.
For PLU, the endorsement of Gen Kainerugaba, coupled with the launch of its website and identification cards, signals an effort to strengthen its organisational structures and mobilisation network.
For Mao, his message opens the door for further engagement with a movement that is increasingly becoming a major player in discussions surrounding Uganda’s next political chapter.
Whether this will eventually result in a formal political partnership between DP and PLU remains unclear.
For now, Mao has expressed solidarity with PLU and welcomed its endorsement of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, while calling for continued discussions between the two organisations.
The development is likely to fuel further debate over the question of political succession in Uganda and whether Gen Kainerugaba could eventually emerge as a leading contender for the country’s top political office.
