NRM Retreat Invite Sparks Public Spat Between Mao and Among
KAMPALA, Uganda — A simmering disagreement over Democratic Party President General Norbert Mao’s attendance at an upcoming NRM parliamentary caucus retreat has erupted into a public row, with Mao accusing a senior government official of “bad manners” and disrespect.
The exchange follows remarks attributed to Rt. Hon. Anita Among, who reportedly said that while cooperation with other political parties exists, “it doesn’t mean that you come up to my bedroom; you remain in the compound.”
Mao, who serves as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs while maintaining his leadership of the Democratic Party, responded sharply on social media.
“This is not just bad politics. It is bad manners!” Mao wrote on his verified X account. “Only the head of the family has the final word on who can access which room in the home. He doesn’t need lectures from a recently adopted child! Above all, when you insult your father’s visitors you’ve insulted your father.”
The controversy centers on an invitation Mao received for the NRM Parliamentary Caucus retreat, scheduled for April 7-15, 2026, at the National Leadership Institute (NALI). The invitation, signed by the NRM Secretary General, was issued at the direction of H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni in his capacity as NRM National Chairman.
Mao has publicly shared his invitation, emphasizing that he attends “as Minister and Leader of the Democratic Party” and as a “guest of the National Chairman of the NRM.”
The incident highlights ongoing tensions within Uganda’s coalition government, where Mao’s Democratic Party maintains a cooperation agreement with the ruling NRM while preserving its separate identity and leadership structure.
About The Author
