Members of Acholi War Debt Claimants’ Association (AWDC) have elected, the Rt Rev Benjamin Ojwang, the retired Bishop of Kitgum Diocese as the Vice Chairperson of the association.
In an election held on Monday at the AWDC offices in Library sub ward in Layibi division in Gulu Municipality, Bishop Ojwang was elected unopposed after Luck Titus Kidega nominated his name for the post.
Retired Bishop Ojwang replaces John Kizza Nyeko, the former Vice Chairperson of the war claimants.
Meanwhile the embattled Chairperson of the association, Noah Opwonya retained his post after getting 132 votes. His rival Livingstone Ocen came in with a distant 28 votes.
Mr Ocen conceded defeated but questioned the credibility of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Boniface Paul Obita, as well as the entire process of the elections.
Ocen said it was unclear how Obita was chosen to head the electoral body of the association.
Another issue Ocen raised was the method of voting: voters were instructed to line behind the candidate of their choice.
The Electoral Commission, Boniface Paul Obita later declared Opwonya the duly elected Chairman, for his second term after he was first elected in June 2010.
Others who were elected are; Luck Titus Kidega, as the Deputy Vice Chairperson, Ogaba Labwoo, a retired banker as the National Treasurer, Gilbert Ojok Oryema, Secretary General and Catherine Akello, Women representative in the executive of the association.
AWDC was formed in 2006 by individuals who lost their animals during the conflict in northern Uganda which ended in 2006.
The claimants are demanding for over 1 trillion shillings in compensation for stolen nad looted animals during the conflict.
In April last year, Noah Opwonya was suspended from office by members of his executive on allegations of fraud, abuse of office, financial mismanagement, incompetence and breach of compensation process.
They accused Mr Opwonya of allegedly swindling 130 million shillings, of over 1 billion that was advanced by government to the association for compensation of lost cattle.
The government has so far advanced to the association close to 10 billion shillings in the last decade.
In January this year, former Gulu High Court judge, Lady Justice Margret Mutonyi dismissed an application in which Opwonya, was seeking to be reinstated into office after he was forced out.
In his application filed at Gulu High Court, Opwonya asked the judge to restrain members of the executive saying they are interfering with his work as Chairperson. Opwonya also argued that his suspension caused inconveniences in the smooth running of the association.
Opwonya’s re-election as Chair of the Acholi War Debt Claimants Association will most likely be a disappointment to those who have blamed him for mismanaging the association.
