The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
GULU, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | The Katonga of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) unveiled its faction leaders in Gulu City amidst a growing leadership row in the once-largest opposition political party.
The executive members were unveiled Thursday following the conclusion of the grassroots election held within the 128 cells and 32 wards in the Divisions of Bardege-Layibi and Pece-Laroo in Gulu City.
The new set of leaders includes 11 executive members within the city and 22 others in the Pece-Laroo and Bardege-Layibi divisions.
In the latest election, Patrick Oola Lumumba, the Bardege-Laroo Division Mayor was unveiled as the Gulu City Chairperson of the FDC Katonga faction. He will be deputized by Betty Aol Ocan, the Gulu City Woman Member of Parliament.
Moses Abonga on the other hand was elected as the Pece-Laroo Division Chairperson, and Alex Kilama, for Bardege-Layibi Division. They will be deputized by Winifred Atoo and Suzan Lapat respectively.
Florence Lalam, the coordinator of the FDC Katonga faction in Gulu City describes the election of the leaders as legit arguing that the members unveiled will coordinate all the FDC party activities in the city.
Lalam says they boycotted last year’s election of executives in Gulu City organized by the faction of Najankaumbi on grounds that it was marred by widespread irregularity.
Betty Aol Ocan, the newly unveiled Vice Chairperson of the FDC Katonga faction says with the new team of executives and well-set leadership structure, they are now ready to carry on with mobilization at the grassroots.
The election and unveiling of the new executives have however been described by the FDC party members subscribing to Najanankumbi as illegal.
Chagga Oyat, the General Secretary FDC Najanankumbi faction in Gulu City told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the leaders unveiled do not represent the interest of the party since no election for such executives had been held.
According to Oyat, the party headquarters halted the election for executives in the Acholi Subregion in the areas of Gulu City, Amuru, and Kitgum Districts in October last year and instead renewed the tenure of the interim leaders.
Those still holding valid positions for the party according to Oyat include him, Christopher Achire, the party Chairperson in Gulu city, and Wilson Otema, the Information and Publicity secretary.
FDC Electoral Commission Secretary Augustine Ojobile accuses the Katonga faction of masquerading arguing that the party headquarters didn’t sanction any grassroots election in Gulu City recently.
FDC party saw a split in its leadership structure last year after its former Party president and founder member Rtd. Col Dr. Kizza Besigye accused the current party president Patrick Amuriat and the General Secretary Nandala Mafabi of receiving ‘dirty’ money from President Yoweri Museveni during the 2021 general election.
The opposition political party has since witnessed the creation of factions loyal to Dr. Besigye at its Katonga headquarters and Amuriat at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
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