By KT Reporter
Candidates vying for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party ticket for the Gweri County parliamentary seat in Soroti District have successfully concluded a three-day joint campaign. The campaign, which ran from Wednesday, July 2, to Friday, July 4, 2025, covered the three sub-counties of Awaliwal, Gweri, and Aukot.
Joyce Mary Akello, the FDC Electoral Commission Chairperson for Soroti District, said the party leadership reached a consensus to organize joint campaigns for the four aspirants who picked nomination forms to challenge the incumbent, Tom Julius Ekudo, the current MP and FDC flag bearer for Gweri County.
Akello urged the aspirants to steer clear of divisive politics and instead focus on strengthening the party. She warned that internal divisions could hand an advantage to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Edmund Ariko, who recently shifted from Soroti City East to contest in Gweri.
“We are here to verify the delegates in the county who are going to vote, and we managed to nominate four aspirants,” said Akello. She acknowledged that divisions within FDC date back to the departure of senior leaders like Mugisha Muntu and Dr. Kizza Besigye but insisted that the party remains strong, with vibrant structures from the village to the national level. A total of 261 delegates are expected to vote on July 12, 2025, to select the party’s flag bearer.
Akello emphasized that while only one candidate will emerge victorious, all aspirants have committed to supporting the winner to maintain party unity and strength. Mary Josephine Ikolit, the FDC Women Secretary in Awaliwal Sub-county, also appealed for unity, urging members to focus on real issues affecting Gweri County, including poor road conditions, inadequate education facilities, and lack of proper healthcare.
“We have many challenges in Gweri, such as poor road conditions that have resulted in the loss of lives. Our education and health services are lacking. We only have one Health Center III serving the entire county. If you need proper healthcare, you must travel about 15 kilometers to town,” she said. “This is why FDC aspirants should focus on choosing a capable leader who will serve the people of Gweri and not create further division within the party.”
Jacob Odela, one of the four aspirants, reaffirmed his commitment to party unity. He acknowledged past divisions in the FDC between 2011 and 2021 but praised the leadership of party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi for restoring cohesion. Odela’s manifesto focuses on revamping the agricultural sector through a complete value chain model. He criticized the low prices offered to farmers by the Soroti Fruit Factory, which he said discourages agricultural production.
David Asubu, the ActionAid Regional Programs Officer for Northern Uganda and now an FDC aspirant, attributed the surge in aspirants to poor service delivery. He emphasized the need for a unifying candidate who can meet the expectations of Gweri residents.
He also lamented the lack of a technical school in Gweri County, despite government policy mandating one in each county. Asubu called for the rebuilding of party structures and inclusive leadership. Gweri County has traditionally been an FDC stronghold. As the party prepares for the 2026 elections, its four nominated aspirants—David Asubu, Jacob Odela, Abeli Opolot, and incumbent MP Tom Julius Ekudo—are now engaging with delegates ahead of the July 12 primaries, where 261 party members will choose the flag bearer-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
