NRM members furious over their administrative secretary

By Arnest Tumwesige

GULU - Hundreds of disgruntled NRM Members in Gulu district turned up to lock out the administrative secretary, Simon Komakech, out of the party offices.

This follows the NRM district conference held on Monday at TAKS center in Gulu municipality.

Among other allegations levied on him is extortion on of money, lack of knowledge about the NRM constitution, corruption and issuing of false documents.

James Ocen, the NRM chairman Pece division who led the members, says Komakech cannot perform his duties as enshrined in the constitution which is affecting the party activities.

Ocen noted that some members were now shunning party activities because his method of communication was not through the party structures which makes them feel sidelined.

“As a party we are not happy because he used one of our members in the name of Coldbert Opio to collect money from over 100 youth in Pece division on disguise that they would get jobs,” he noted.

Opio was arrested by Komakech late last month on allegations that he had turned into the NRM secretary general and collecting money worth Shs3m illegally without his knowledge.

However Opio told New Vision that what he was doing was in knowledge of his boss Komakech who assigned him the duty to mobilize youth for jobs in the capacity of mobilisers and foot soldiers.

To that effect, Komakech equally denied using him and termed him as an FDC member.

Martin Okoyo, the DPC Gulu, advised the members to use available legal means to have their concerns addressed rather than taking law into their hands.

Okoyo explained that, the accused should first be summoned and explained that resolution reached during the NRM district conference before locking the offices.

By press time out of 50 district executive members, 37 had already signed the resolution to have Komakech out of office.

When Komakech was contacted on phone, he said he could not divulge anything to press since he was travelling from Kampala to Gulu.

The acting NRM chairman Samuel Oduny when contacted on phone asked the party members to be patient so that the Komakech is formally informed of his mistakes.