Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has explained his presence at the ruling party’s recent leaders’ retreat, citing an official invitation extended to him in his dual capacity as a government minister and leader of the Democratic Party.
In a statement addressing public debate, Mao clarified that his attendance at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus Retreat was not self-initiated but formally sanctioned.
He pointed to an official communication from the Office of the Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement, which invited him as a guest of the party’s National Chairman.
The letter, dated March 27, 2026, indicates that the invitation was issued under the directive of President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as the NRM National Chairman.
It was signed by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong.
According to the document, the retreat brought together close to 450 members of the incoming NRM Parliamentary Caucus and was held at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi from April 7 to April 15, 2026.
The meeting was convened under the theme of aligning leadership to protect national gains and advance Uganda toward a higher middle-income status.
Mao emphasized that his participation should be viewed within the broader framework of his role in government, noting that engagement across political lines is part of his mandate as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The development has sparked mixed reactions within political circles, with some questioning the optics of an opposition party leader attending a ruling party function.
However, Mao maintains that the invitation and his attendance were both official and transparent.
His remarks come amid ongoing political realignments in Uganda, where cooperation between leaders from different parties continues to generate debate over the boundaries between governance and partisan interests.