Otunnu accuses Pulkol of taking sh250m from UPC

By Darious Magara   

THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Dr.  Olara Otunnu has accused his former mobilization and policy chief, David Pulkol of stealing sh250m from the party.

In an exclusive address to New Vision Online journalist at the party headquarters in Kampala, Otunnu said that they had already alerted Deepening Democracy Program -the NGO which provided the party funding of sh200m to investigate the loss.

“The NGO gave us sh200m, it is nowhere to be seen and sh50m was also withdrawn from the UPC Party account by Mr. Pulkol. He should explain the whereabouts of these funds,” Otunnu said on Saturday.

He also accused Pulkol of being a National Resistance Movement (NRM) mole that had infiltrated his party with the help of President Yoweri Museveni to bring it down.

Pulkol however explained that he and other party officials spent the donation on party activities.

Otunnu, who was flanked by his new party chairman Prof. Edward Kakonge said they were working hard to draw comprehensive programs for the youth and women. He promised to work with his organs to cause healing and reconciliation in the party.

But Benson Obua, who opened the youth convention, said that Otunnu did not have leadership skills to reconcile the party leadership.

Otunnu’s reactions followed scathing attacks on him by the former party president Major Edward Ruragaranga and Pukol at a National Youth Convention in Kampala on Friday.

Rurangaranga and Pulkol argued that Otunnu is incompetent and would be replaced as UPC President. 

Otunnu mid this month sacked party top officials chairman Maj. Rurangaranga, Pulkol and secretary general John Odit were sacked from UPC. The officials have since contested Otunnu’s decision in courts of law.