Three senior officials of the Forum for Democratic Change in Soroti have been suspended from office.
Joseph Osoto, Fred Okello and Joseph Opit were suspended by the FDC leadership in Tororo for promoting infighting in the opposition party. Their suspension was announced by the FDC Disciplinary Committee that was chaired by Peter Omolo, the Soroti County MP who is also the FDC Soroti district chairperson.
During the disciplinary committee deliberations that were not open to the public it was disclosed that the three FDC officials were undermining the authority of the district leadership and were disrupting the growth the party in Soroti. A source who attended the meeting disclosed that it was attended by MP Alice Alaso, the FDC Secretary General, Steven Ochola the district party mobiliser and councilors Helen Akia and Justin Ecaat.
In 2006 the FDC swept the parliamentary and local government elections in Soroti, creating a stronghold for the opposition party. However the party has been split over accusations of financial impropriety, sabotage and foul play for the past two years.
A fortnight ago, two LC4 councilors, Jovans Odikor and Horrat Okello were suspended from office by Justin Ecaat, who is the party's electoral commission officer in Soroti. Ecaat accused them of inciting other district councilors from the party against him.
It is not clear what the exact reasons for the suspension of the latest three FDC officials were. One source claims that Joseph Osoto, who is the Speaker of the Soroti District Council, announced his intentions to replace Peter Omolo as Soroti County MP in 2011 and is being made to pay for his ambitions.
The suspension of party officials in Soroti comes amid preparations by the FDC to conduct nationwide grassroots elections ahead of a delegates' conference slated for November this year.
