DCP Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala. Photo/Courtesy
Deputy leader of the Democracy for The Citizens Party (DCP), Cleophas Malala, has raised concerns over the United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) activities following repeated attacks on his party leader, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“The violence targeting former Deputy President Gachagua, including the latest incident at Witima Church on Sunday, is alarming,” Malala said.
“We have credible information that UDA officials are being prepared in ways that go beyond political engagement.”
Malala’s remarks come amid revelations that UDA has previously engaged with Uganda’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in a series of official visits.
In February 2025, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar led a delegation to the NRM Leadership Institute at Kyankwanzi for what was described as a benchmarking exercise.
Omar described the visit as an opportunity to study the NRM’s leadership development model and to establish a similar system within UDA.
“Had a great engagement at the National Resistance Movement Leadership Institute, where we explored strategies to enhance leadership development within our party,” Omar said at the time, noting that UDA officials, including National Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi and Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, were part of the delegation.
The NRM party later shared on its official platforms that UDA’s visit was an honour.
“Coming to a place where the NRM party was born is a journey of discovery and this will illuminate our fantasies,” Omar stated during the visit.
While UDA has framed the engagement as leadership development, Malala warned that the training could extend into paramilitary tactics, citing repeated attacks on Gachagua’s political engagements.
The allegations come at a time when political violence in Kenya has been a growing concern, with parties frequently accusing one another of mobilizing security personnel outside legal frameworks.