Constitutional Court Dismisses Petition Against NRM-DP Cooperation Deal

The Constitutional Court in Kampala has dismissed a petition challenging the 2022 cooperation agreement between the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Democratic Party (DP).

 

The petition was filed by six DP Members of Parliament: Richard Lumu Kizito, Michael Phillip Lulume Bayigga, John Paul Lukwago Mpalanyi, Fortunate Rode Nantongo, Richard Sebamala, and Fred Kayondo.

 

These legislators sought to nullify the agreement that was signed in July 2022 by DP President General Norbert Mao and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. 

 

In a unanimous judgment delivered today, a panel of five justices ruled that the petition did not raise any constitutional questions warranting interpretation.

 

Court records indicate that the legislators sued Mao, DP Secretary General Gerald Siranda, the Democratic Party, and the Attorney General. They argued that they were elected on the DP ticket and are members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), its top decision-making body.

 

The legislators contended that Mao, without proper authority or consultation with party organs, signed the cooperation agreement as “Chairman General,” a title not recognized under the DP constitution.

 

Under the contested agreement, the DP committed to cooperate with the NRM in supporting the government’s overall governance agenda. This included backing parliamentary votes on matters of confidence and supply for the full term of Parliament.

 

Court records also reveal that Mao would be appointed Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and he subsequently took the oath of office on August 2, 2022. The agreement stipulated that Cabinet Rules would bind DP ministers appointed to the Cabinet and that the DP would ensure full voting attendance whenever it committed to support the NRM government.

 

The legislators maintained that while they did not object to Mao serving as a minister in his personal capacity, signing a binding cooperation agreement while still serving as DP President undermined the democratic governance principles enshrined in the Constitution.

 

They asked the court to declare the agreement null and void and to issue a permanent injunction preventing DP organs from ratifying it. 

 

The dismissal of the petition now means that the DP will fully support the NRM agenda. NRM agenda.