Electoral Commission urged to stop DP Delegates’ conference.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is currently reviewing a complaint against the Democratic Party’s Secretary General, Siranda Gerald Blacks amid allegations of subversion of electoral democracy within the party. The complaint comes as the IEC considers suspending the upcoming DP National Delegates Conference scheduled for May 30, 2025.
Julius Ddumba, a former contender for the party’s leadership who withdrew citing irregularities has petitioned the IEC to halt preparations for the conference. Ddumba alleges that Siranda who is also a candidate in the ongoing internal elections is involved in a conflict of interest that amounts to abuse of office, violating the legal principle of ‘nemo judex in causa sua’ (no one should judge their own case).
In his petition, Ddumba also challenges the alleged unlawful amendment of the DP constitution. He claims that Siranda’s attempt to alter the party’s rules which include resurrecting a rejected Management Committee and centralizing financial control in the Secretary General was done unconstitutionally and without proper delegates’ approval. Ddumba contends that these changes undermine the party’s democratic processes and violate the party’s internal rules.
Additionally, Hon. Richard Lumu, DP’s Deputy Legal Advisor filed a separate petition against what he describes as fraudulent amendments and abuse of the electoral process. He criticized the unilateral changes to the party’s constitution which he says were driven by narrow personal interests rather than democratic principles. Lumu also condemned the exclusion of youth provisions from the amendments.
Ddumba expressed concerns that Siranda’s actions aim to entrench himself in power citing clauses in the 2025 gazetted constitution that were not ratified at the 2020 delegates’ conference. He called for an investigation into Siranda’s conduct for breaching the party’s Code of Conduct and urged the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate and potentially prosecute him for breaches of leadership and anti-corruption laws.
Attempts to contact Siranda for comment have so far been unsuccessful. It remains unclear whether the DP National Delegates Conference will proceed as scheduled amid the ongoing allegations and legal challenges.
