Gulu Municipality: 18 years of heartbreak stares NRM in the face

GULU

It is 18 years since the National Resistance Movement occupied the Gulu Municipality seat. Unless something is done to bridge the divisions which split the ruling party right after its primaries ahead of the 2011 election, NRM is unlikely to wrest control of this bustling town from its opponents.
Those divisions cost the party, with individuals who felt cheated in the primaries choosing to run as independent candidates.

The race, which drew eight contestants, saw the former mayor, Christopher Acire (Forum for Democratic Change), garner 10,265, beating his closest rival on Democratic Party ticket, Emmanuel Mwaka Lutukomoi (7,420). Mwaka later crossed to the NRM in the same year. He has since been appointed a deputy Resident District Commissioner and posted to Lira District.

The third runner-up was Timothy Jokene (independent), leaving Mr Michael Ochora (NRM) lagging in fourth place with 4,061 votes. Ochora remains undeterred and hopes for better fortunes in 2016. He feels he is better placed, arguing that the incumbent has lost the ground.
Other candidates included Henry Komakech Kilama (independent) 708; Freddy Oyat Wathum (independent) 157 and UPC’s Denis Fred Okema (027).

Optimistic
“I am optimistic that I will make it to Parliament given the fact that 2011 second runner-up, who would still be a threat, is no more in the race,” Ochora told Saturday Monitor. Ochora also said the in-house party fights of 2011 have been ironed out, thus creating a better ground for him. He is also counting on benefiting from the fight between Acire and the FDC district leadership.

“When the current DP president, Mr Norbert Mao, left the municipality, there has never been any development at all,” he adds in tribute to Mao’s exemplary performance as MP. “Most of the leaders in the municipality do not have their people at heart.”

The Gulu District FDC chairman, Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, said the party has guidelines which members should follow. However, at times, some members do not oblige. “I cannot comment much on Mr Acire’s behaviour whatsoever, but I ask party members to always abide by the laws governing the party,” he said.

Intent on a second term, according to his backers, the incumbent has continued to support women with loans and they pay back at low interest rates, on top of giving out boda-boda bikes to youth on loan.
His strategy of tapping votes from youth and women has worked from way back when he contested for mayor in 2006. It took something of a knock recently though.

Observers say his popularity suffered following recent protests by the women who are part of the Urib Wunu Mon Cooperative savings (UWMFO) microfinance, where he is chairman of the board.
The women accused Acire of denying them a chance to get their savings that they had saved for a year.
In interviews with this newspaper, Acire declined to comment on his political future, protesting that it was too early to say anything. He also played down the women’s protest while insisting that he would pay them.

There is the outside chance that the NRM candidate could be better placed this time. The party’s administrative secretary in Gulu, Mr Peter Okello, told Saturday Monitor that a lot of house cleaning has been done in preparation for 2016. “So far, three have contacted my office to contest on NRM ticket come 2016, but they will all be subjected to the primaries,” he said.

To some, Okello’s optimism may be premature considering how the Opposition has consistently hammered the ruling party in this constituency. In 2006, Alex Oceng Penytoo of the Forum for Democratic Change swept to victory in a wave of FDC euphoria in the region, with the young politician not even having to campaign in some areas. Leander Komakech from the Democratic Party came second with Lutukomoi occupying third place as an independent.

Others who have showed interest to stand are the LC3 chairperson Laroo Division, Mr Moses Abonga.
Mr Abonga is a staunch FDC supported and he is serving a second term as the division chairman.
“I am still consulting and assessing the situation. [But] I am ready to serve in a leadership position if am voted into that position,” he said.

A wild card entry may yet emerge in the person of artiste, Justine ‘Simple Man’ Obol. Rather well known for his catchy songs, Obol says he feels for the youth who have lost sense of direction in the recovering municipality.

‘Best local artiste’
“All the leaders in the leadership positions, right from the councillors to MPs, behave as if they are not representing anyone at a particular level. I hope if I get there I will bridge the gap by not only helping the youth to get loans but also grants for sustainability,” Obol says.

From 2012, Obol has been rated as the best local artiste in the Acholi sub-region and its environs. Notably, he once donated Shs500,000 he received in an award money for being elected best artiste to Gulu Maternity Ward and St Jude Orphanage Home. He was part of the team that visited the elusive LRA leader, Joseph Kony, in the DR Congo’s Garamba Forest during the peace talks.

Some of his songs are Give peace a chance and Wamito Kuc, literally (we want peace), that become so influential during the peace talks. Gulu waits.

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