Douglas Peter Okello, the Gulu District National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Chairman has quit the party saying his role as party Chairman had for long been undermined and hijacked.
Addressing the press Thursday afternoon at the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) in Gulu town, Mr Okello who until recently was Gulu’s Vice Chairman and before that its Speaker alleged that for long his efforts as NRM district party Chairman has been frustrated by internal fights in the party.
” I have left the party[NRM),” he said. On where next he will go, Okello said ” I will make that known in the course of time.”
Mr Okello is one of those who have expressed interest to run as an independent in the newly created Omoro district. Omoro became operational this month.
Okello further alleged that he had during this year’s presidential elections been framed and blackmailed by NRM members who accused him of supporting former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi. Amama run as an independent candidate in the February elections.
Okello was accompanied to the press conference by several Forum for Democratic Change officials including Gulu’s Chairman Ojara Martin Mapenduzi.
The Gulu District FDC party Chairperson, Lillian Stella Lalam, described Okello as a mature leader who has served his people well. Lalam said the FDC party will persuade him(Okello) to cross to FDC despite the fact that Okello has not yet made up his mind on which opposition political party he will join. She described Okello’s decision to leave NRM as a ”wise one.”
But Christopher Opiyo Ateker, the NRM district Chairperson says he is not surprised by Okello’s decision to leave NRM adding that he has a ‘‘questionable character.’’
Ateker claims that for a long time they(NRM) were aware of Okello’s move to switch political camp. He accused Okello of incompetence saying he (Okello) had failed to mobilize for the party forcing many NRM members to leave the party out of frustration.
Ateker also demanded Okello should make accountability of the funds that were advanced to him for party activities before he leaves office.
Gulu District LCV Chairperson, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, who accompanied the former Gulu district NRM party Chairperson to the press briefing, welcomed Okello’s decision to leave the ruling party saying it is his right to do so.
Mapenduzi described Okello as a senior NRM party who served as the District party Chairperson adding that he is happy to welcome him to FDC.
