FDC's Fungaroo pitches camp in Amuru over defections

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AMURU

In a bid to alleviate the concerns of its disheartened members, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) vice-president, Kaps Hassan Fungaroo, has camped in the Amuru district.

His visit comes on the heels of significant political upheaval triggered by the defections of two influential FDC members, leaving local supporters feeling abandoned in a shifting political landscape.

Kilak North legislator, Anthony Akol, late last week defected to the ruling National Resistance Movement party. He has been MP for two terms so far under the FDC ticket. 

Akol’s defection follows that of Amuru district LC5 chairperson, Michael Lakony, on January 30, 2025, during President Yoweri Museveni's visit to Lango region.

This double defection has rattled the FDC headquartered at Najjanankumbi, prompting it to act swiftly to comfort party members who have expressed their distress to the party secretariat.

On February 25, 2025, Fungaroo convened with FDC leaders from various sub-counties in Pabo town council in the heart of the Kilak North constituency—the county Akol represented.

The next day, his journey would lead him to Kilak South, Lakony’s home turf.

In his address to the gathering, Fungaroo acknowledged the unsettling news surrounding the departure of key party figures, emphasizing the importance of understanding the situation.

“My mission today is to analyse the current landscape and assess whether this defection has truly weakened FDC's foothold in Amuru,” he stated, underscoring the strategic significance of the region to the party.

Amuru district has traditionally been a stronghold for the FDC, with its LC5 chairperson and all three parliamentary representatives—Akol, Gilbert Olanya (Kilak South), and Lucy Akello (women MP)—firmly aligned with the party.

The FDC has dominated leadership roles within the district, reinforcing its influence in local governance.

Fungaroo defended the multitudes of political choices available in Uganda’s multi-party system, stating, “There is fundamental freedom for individuals to join or leave political parties. This is not the first instance of notable FDC figures from Acholi, particularly Amuru, leaving for NRM”.

Painful defections

He referenced past defections, including that of former Amuru woman MP, Concy Aciro Odera, and others, asserting that the party's resilience remains intact despite such challenges.

Expressing his sorrow over Akol and Lakony's departures, Fungaroo termed the event "painful" but maintained a note of optimism.

“Despite the challenges faced during the 2016 general election, FDC emerged resilient,” he added, urging the people of Amuru to rally behind their party.

“This region is a fortress for Acholi against the injustices imposed by this government,” he declared, criticizing the deceptive tactics employed by President Museveni to garner support from local leaders.

Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South legislator, echoed Fungaroo’s sentiments, characterising the defection as an ignoble act.

“Akol and Lakony’s presence within FDC was holding us back; they were complicit in the government’s land grabs in Amuru, causing serious harm to the local community,” he alleged, vowing to traverse every village in Kilak North to galvanize support for any FDC candidate aspiring to contest for parliament.

FDC party leaders in Amuru during their crisis meeting. (Credit: Christopher Nyeko)

FDC lines up three to 'replace' Akol

“In light of Akol's defection, we already have three candidates eyeing the Kilak North MP ticket under the FDC banner, along with four women preparing to vie for the women’s MP seat,” Olanya revealed with determination.

He remained resolute that Akol and Lakony’s move to NRM was self-serving rather than beneficial for the people of Amuru, dismissing their claims of bringing monetary benefits to the community.

“Look at Gulu and Nwoya districts, which are fully under NRM representation; what substantive change have they achieved compared to us?” he challenged, highlighting the disparity in governance and development.

Response from FDC Members

Robert Okot, the interim chair of FDC in Amuru district, shared his perspective on the recent defections, noting that the departing members were not the driving force within the party.

He recounted personally escorting Michael Lakony to Alebtong on January 30, where he received a lukewarm reception from party loyalists.

According to Okot, out of a delegation of 67 FDC members, 55 defected to NRM alongside Lakony.

“They had high hopes of receiving financial rewards for their switch, only to be given a mere sh8,000 for lunch in the dead of night,” Okot disclosed, painting a stark picture of the disillusionment among defectors.

As the political landscape continues to shift, the FDC remains committed to regrouping and fortifying its presence in Amuru, rallying its members to remain steadfast against the currents of change.

Denis Rom, the deputy chairperson of the Amuru district LC5 and a devoted member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), expressed deep concern over the recent defection of key party members, which he believes has significantly impacted FDC supporters in Amuru.

During a recent meeting, he revealed that Anthony Akol has been orchestrating gatherings aimed at swaying FDC loyalists toward the NRM

However, those loyal to FDC have been noticeably absent from these meetings, illustrating their discontent with the current situation.

Rom passionately called for the immediate establishment of a robust party structure at the grassroots level.

He emphasized that this structure is essential for effective mobilisation, identifying suitable candidates for upcoming elections, and protecting the vote against any potential manipulation.

Sharon Alanyo, the female councilor representing Pabo Town Council and Pabo sub-county on an FDC ticket, who also serves as the current Secretary for Work and Technical Services in Amuru, asserted her belief that the FDC remains a formidable force in the district.

Alanyo criticised the FDC secretariat for their failure to provide timely financial assistance to party candidates during electoral campaigns.

She argued that this issue must be urgently addressed if the party aims to retain its previous popularity and strength in the region.

Agrey Keith Akera (an FDC staunch), also Amuru district secretary of health and education and was vocal about the detrimental timing of Lakony and Akol's defection to NRM.

He noted that their departure occurred at a critical moment when the opposition needed all hands on deck in Acholi to hold the ruling government accountable and to advocate for reparations for the communities affected by the ravages of war.

Richard Abola Lacaka, a seasoned FDC member, pointed fingers at the party secretariat, accusing it of neglecting to communicate vital information to grassroots structures.

He highlighted that this lack of communication has undermined the relationship between the secretariat and lower-level party members, resulting in disillusionment.

Dogulus Oketayot, the FDC electoral supervisor for Amuru district, hinted at the future of the party without providing explicit names of the candidates. He stated confidently that they have identified individuals to step into the roles vacated by Akol and Lakony.

Oketayot urged FDC national leaders to recognize the unwavering commitment of Gilbert Olanya and Lucy Akello, recommending that they be awarded significant positions within the party.

Patrick Onencan, an FDC member from Atiak Town Council, viewed the defections as an unexpected opportunity for other party members to ascend to leadership roles.

He remarked, “They have committed abominations. They joined the NRM government at a time when the people of Acholi are still reconciling with the current government. This is precisely why Amuru continues to stand in opposition to the NRM.”

Thomas Tobina, an elder in the FDC party and a former political manager for key figures like Lucy Akello, Anthony Akol, and Michael Lakony, expressed his disappointment.

He narrated how he was able to rally community support for these leaders in the past. “Whenever I encouraged the community to support these individuals, they gained immense backing. However, since they have shifted their allegiance to NRM, I too will redirect my support toward any new candidates under the FDC banner.”

The NRM party is strategically eager to dismantle the FDC’s stronghold in Amuru.

Earlier this year, the NRM initiated an extensive mobilization campaign, aiming to undermine the opposition's influence within the district.

NRM district officials contended that the opposition has successfully sown confusion among the electorate by discrediting government initiatives.

To counter this perceived misinformation, the NRM leadership is reinforcing their grassroots network, preparing their members to robustly defend government actions and articulate the efforts being made to alleviate poverty.

They highlighted various initiatives such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and youth livelihood projects as significant steps in this direction.

As the NRM leaders equipped themselves with this comprehensive campaign strategy ahead of the 2026 general elections, their goal is clear: to undermine and refute the opposition's narrative, leaving FDC with dwindling options to sway the local populace.