Five Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) councilors petitioned their party President, General Mugisha Muntu to intervene and hold a reconciliatory meeting among the FDC party members before the party structure election for Gulu district kicks off .
The councilors are Mr Olweny Balington Pa Ogwec, Mr Komakech Patrick, Mr Wadok Francisco Awori, Mr Okoya Owen Chris, Mr Nyeko Kenneth who are still on spotlight for having met the president two weeks ago where they accused the district party chairman, Mr Ojara Martin Mapenduzi who doubles as the L.C V chairman and The Chief Administrative Officer Ms Dorothy Ajwang.
Their petition follows an incident at Paragon hotel during the meeting to train FDC presiding officers ahead of the grassroots elections.
Mr Nyeko Kenneth who is the FDC general secretary for Gulu and Mr Komakech Patrick who is the spokesperson for the party in Gulu were thrown out of the meeting with the FDC chairperson telling the members in the room not to trust the FDC councilors who met the president.
“We are the party leaders and we are still FDC because we still have our party cards. How can they say we move out because we are not trusted? Even Mapenduzi saw the president many times,” Mr Nyeko remarked.
He added that they know Mapenduzi supported Mugisha Muntu to become party president but that as the party president, he must try and help FDC in Gulu.
Another member, Mr Komakech Patrick said that, “Mapenduzi is just intimidating members who are capable of challenging his leadership, he is scared of 2016 because we are youth and capable of out competing him in upcoming general elections.”
Komakech says that they are petitioning the president of the party Mugisha Muntu to intervene within one week or they are going to seek a court injunction into all party activities in Acholi sub region.
Mr Olweny Balingtone Pa Ogwech, who is the LCV councilor for Bungatria Sub County said Mr Mapenduzi is at war with MP Acire Christopher including them and that now means there is so many FDC factions.
He said the grassroots election should be stopped until the disunity is resolved at the shortest possible time.
“If he delays then that means with all the division in the party, FDC will be weak for the 2016 elections,” Mr Olweny said.
Mr Mapenduzi accuses the five party members of selling their party affiliations to the NRM for only Shs2 million each, the claims that the rebels FDC members denied stating that they only received Shs300, 000.
However, the vice chairperson of the FDC Gulu and woman Member of Parliament for Gulu district, Ms Betty Aol Ocan says that the defacto members are just disgruntled FDC members who don’t want to use the right channel of solving their grievances but are instead misbehaving.
‘‘Their matter and indiscipline acts has been forwarded to the headquarters but as a district office we have nothing much we can do for the rebel members as final decision will come from Kampala,’’ Ms Aol said.
She says that the disgruntle members can still be given a second chance if they apologize, as FDC is a party which can compromise not like NRM which could have suspended them or face disciplinary actions.
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