Olanya accuses Robert Okot Okeny of defecting to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party despite still maintaining his position in the FDC party in the district.
The Kilak South Member of
Parliament Gilbert Olanya and the Interim Chairperson of the Forum for Democratic
Change party (FDC) in Amuru district are embroiled in a bicker over allegations
of defection.
Olanya accuses Robert Okot Okeny
of defecting to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party despite
still maintaining his position in the FDC party in the district. Okeny was part
of a group of FDC party members who accompanied the Amuru District Chairperson, Michael
Lakony, for his defection to the NRM party in Alebtong District on January 30.
During a meeting with FDC
party members in Pabbo Town Council, Amuru district, on Tuesday, Olanya noted that
Okeny and a section of FDC members are acting as moles within the party and declared
them nonparty members.
Olanya implored the FDC party leadership
to crack a whip on its members, whom he refers to as pretenders within the opposition
party.
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He also called on the party to
conduct a fresh election for the District Chairperson to help streamline the
party structure, claiming that they don’t have any FDC chairperson as of now in
the district.
Okeny, however, refuted claims that
he defected to the NRM, arguing that his journey to Alebtong was only to witness
first-hand the defection of his party members.
Okeny alleged that he was meant
to send his mobilizer to witness the defection but ended up going by himself.
“The reason you didn’t see me in
any photo is because I didn’t go there to defect but to listen to the President
and also witness who the district chairman had gone with to cross into NRM,”
said Okeny.
He noted that he is still the
interim chairperson legally and will only relinquish the position once his term
expires.
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The FDC Deputy President in
charge of Northern Uganda visited Amuru district Tuesday following the wave
of defection; however called for calm among the party members in the district.
He said the party has scheduled
to hold the party structure election, which will determine who will be the next
FDC Chairperson and other grassroots leaders in Amuru next month.
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Fungaroo also noted that following
the defection of their top party members, they have embarked on mobilization at
the grassroots level to strengthen the party structure and also build leadership
capacities.
While FDC says it's unbothered about
the defection of some of its members, the recent defection of Kilak North
County Legislator Anthony Akol to NRM is seen as a big political blow to the
party ahead of the 2026 general election.
Akol adds to the long lists of staunch
FDC party members in the Acholi Sub-region who, over the years, defected to the
ruling NRM party or chose to remain independent.
They include former Kitgum Municipality
legislator, now the state Minister for Environment Beatrice Anywar, former
Leader of Opposition Prof Morris Ogenga Latigo, Bardege-Layibi legislator, and Martin
Ojara Mapenduzi, among others.
