Mao Denounces “Impersonator” Account as Fake Withdrawal from Speaker Race Surfaces
Kampala, Uganda – DP President-General Norbert Mao has been forced to disown a social media account falsely claiming he has withdrawn from the race for Speaker of Parliament, even as his official office confirms he is actively seeking the ruling NRM party’s backing for the same position.
On the evening of May 21, 2026, an X (formerly Twitter) account operating under the handle @MaoforSpeaker posted a statement announcing Mao’s alleged exit from the speakership contest.
“I have withdrawn from the Speakership race, since what I wanted to be seen has been seen. I wish those contesting the best and may the best Candidate win,” the purported statement read, signed “MaoforSpeaker.”
However, within minutes, Norbert Mao’s verified account (@norbertmao) issued a sharp rebuttal, labeling the post as malicious.
“DISCLAIMER! This account @MaoforSpeaker does not belong to my Team and neither does it represent me,” Mao wrote. “It must belong to a wannabe social media mercenary created for malice, diversion and sabotage. We have reported it to @X as an impersonator’s account. I don’t know what they’re waiting for to take action.”
Official Bid Proceeds to NRM
Contrary to the fake withdrawal, official sources indicate that Mao is pressing ahead with his ambition. According to information from his office, the DP President-General has formally written to the Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the NRM Secretary-General, Richard Todwong.
The letter requests that Mao’s bid for Speaker be placed on the agenda at the upcoming NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Parliamentary Caucus meetings.
Background of NRM-DP Cooperation
Mao’s quest for the Speaker’s chair is grounded in the July 20, 2022, cooperation agreement signed between the NRM and the Democratic Party at State House, Entebbe. The landmark deal, signed by Secretaries-General Richard Todwong (NRM) and Gerald Siranda (DP), contains 42 clauses outlining power-sharing, constitutionalism, and human rights.
The agreement has already yielded significant political appointments, including Mao’s own role as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and Siranda’s election to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
This is not the first instance of NRM-DP collaboration. Historical records show that following the 1986 NRA liberation struggle, 60% of Uganda’s Cabinet were DP members. Notably, the late former DP President-General, Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, served consecutively as Minister of Internal Affairs (1986–88), Foreign Affairs (1988–94), and Public Service (1994–95), while also holding the post of Deputy Prime Minister in President Museveni’s broad-based government.
End of Article
About The Author
