By KT Reporter
The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, stunned supporters by rejecting a group of former FDC members who had been paraded before him as defectors to the NRM, questioning their motives and leaving the crowd divided between laughter, shock, and suspicion.
Balaam had pitched camp in the city as part of his whirlwind tour of West Nile, having earlier traversed Adjumani, Yumbe, and Koboko districts, mobilising support for the ruling NRM party. His mission in Arua was to drum up votes for Arua Central Division Member of Parliament and NRM flag bearer, Jackson Atima, alongside other party candidates ahead of Thursday’s polls.
Accompanied by Atima and the Deputy and Assistant Resident City Commissioners of Arua City, Balaam led a lively procession through the city streets, marching shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of chanting NRM supporters. The energy later shifted to the OPM grounds, where supporters gathered expectantly to hear the minister’s address.
But the rally took an unexpected turn. As part of the programme, Balaam was presented with a group of more than 20 young men and women clad in FDC T-shirts. They were introduced as former opposition supporters who had allegedly crossed over to the NRM and were to be officially received as defectors. Instead of applause, their appearance was met with murmurs and visible unease from sections of the crowd.
Sensing the tension, Balaam paused and subjected the group to a brief but pointed interrogation. His questions, coupled with the crowd’s hostile reaction, deepened doubts about the authenticity of the defection. Within moments, the minister made a decisive call, rejecting the group outright. He accused the would-be defectors of being motivated not by conviction, but by expectation of handouts, making it clear he was not prepared to offer money in exchange for political allegiance.
The rejection sparked further debate on the grounds. Speaking in Lugbara, Davies Edema, who identified himself as the leader of the FDC defectors, attempted to clarify the situation.
He explained that many of the young people were unable to express themselves in English, but had previously supported the FDC parliamentary candidate in Arua Central Division and had now chosen to shift their loyalty to the NRM.
With tensions rising, Jackson Atima addressed both the minister and the crowd, seeking to calm tempers and provide context to the contested defection. He appealed for patience and understanding, urging party supporters to allow the new converts to be heard, while also suggesting that the opposition often stages such moments for attention.
With presidential and parliamentary races nearing their conclusion, last-minute defections have become increasingly common, but critics argue that these are frequently driven by material expectations rather than ideological alignment.
The day’s events lingered as an illustration of the uncertainty and opportunism that often characterise the final stretch of election campaigns.
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