Kampala — ATTEMPTS to contain the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) have failed; so says the grapevine. The Democratic Party (DP) leadership is divided over it, raising speculation that one faction is using the UYD to take over power.

Last week we picked upon a rumour that Kampala mayor, Haji Nasser Sebaggala was behind the plot. But the sequel has a new twist. Reports have it that DP's president general, Ssebaana Kizito, who is aware of the UYD's influence, is using it to prop up his hold on the party's leadership which is rumoured to be declining.

UYD was formed in 1995 as a pressure group to campaign for the return of multiparty politics in Uganda, but was reportedly mistaken to be a DP youth wing. Several of its founders were renowned DP youths, some of whom have since joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Fearing its growing influence, rumour has it that DP's national executive committee (NEC) and the national council is attempting to co-opt the UYD into DP. This is being resisted, according to the grapevine, which is ablaze with several conspiracy theories, including one citing Sebaggala.

There is strong suspicion that the mayor could be trying to turn UYD into an independent party. Some other people reckon that the young democrats might be plotting to take over DP and install their own leader.

A section of UYD calling themselves the originals or historicals, led by Kenneth Kakande are reported to have recently vowed to take over the leadership of DP. This, they hope, would brighten the chances of the old party winning the 2011 elections. But another faction headed by Susan Abbo is attempting to be integrated in the incumbent DP leadership.

It's on record that the UYD engineered the victory of several MPs in the 7th Parliament. It planned Sebaggala's and Ssebaana's successful bids for mayorship. That was in 1998 when Sebaggala became mayor. In 1999 and later in 2002 it backed Ssebaana.

Because he knows UYD's potential full well, Ssebaana is said to be trying to woo them to his side. But this has instead drawn anger from the party's NEC which, according to rumours will not hesitate to reprimand him.