The former National Chairman of the Democratic Party, Muhammad Kezaala who quit his position shortly after the President appointed him Deputy Ambassador insists he is still a member of the opposition party.
In an exclusive interview with NTV in Jinja, Kezaala says he accepted the ambassadorial post to serve Ugandans. He adds that his criticism in past was not levelled against President Museveni and the ruling NRM party but the policies of the government.
The former National Chairman of the Democratic Party Muhammad Baswale Kezaala ditched his position in the party in favour of President Yoweri Museveni’s ambassadorial appointment in early February.
He became the second politician in the Democratic party, after the current State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Nakiwala Kiyingi to accept to work under the ruling NRM government within a year after the 2016 general election.
Kezaala, who joined the oldest political party in Uganda as a young man more than 20 years ago says he cannot abandon the party that nurtured him in politics. As a member of DP, who served in various capacities, Kezaala was a strong critic of the ruling NRM party.
Kezaala has been a leading figure for the Democratic Party in Busoga and he served as Jinja municipality mayor for 10 years on the party’s ticket; but he lost his seat in last year’s general election .
At the time of his appointment,Kezaala was still challenging the win by his rival NRM's Majid Batambuze in the court of appeal, which has led some within the Democratic Party to suggested that Kezaala took up the President’s appointment because he was jobless and heavily indebted.
A recent meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee resolved to summon before a disciplinary committee members who have accepted government positions.