Acholi politicians warned against arrogance, blackmail
He says some politicians want their position to be ring-fenced so that they are the only ones standing unopposed to something the bishop says makes politics become like a family business.
By Christopher Nyeko
Gulu: The overseer of the born-again churches in the Acholi sub-region, Bishop James Ocan, has warned a section of incumbent politicians in the Acholi sub-region against threatening and blackmailing their political opponents and political novices who are currently expressing their political ambition to contest for any elective position.
Ocan, however, calls on both the incumbents and the political novice to explore peaceful means of convincing electorates by displaying their good political ideologies so that they are rightfully understood, judged, and voted into the elective position, as opposed to practicing hatred.
He says some politicians want their position to be ring-fenced so that they are the only ones standing unopposed to something the bishop says makes politics become like a family business.
The Ocan message came following alleged increasing cases of threats among the section of politicians in Acholi who are allegedly receiving threats and blackmail from some incumbent politicians after hearing that such politicians are preparing to contest against them.
Oryem Charles Olweny, the area councilor five representing Namokora sub-county in Kitgum district local government council, says some political novices are full of discrediting, criticizing, and uttering defamatory statements against the incumbent.
‘’This can prompt the incumbent politician to use the power and authority he or she has to disorganize their opponents.’’
Robert Mugabe, a former contestant for the mayoral seat of Gulu City Council in the 2021 general election, says the incumbent politicians are using all the ways to sabotage the novice by bribing their opponent with money so that they are bared for contesting, while others have moved to the extent of disrupting their opponent’s ways of survival at job places and business points just to weaken them financially because some of them did not attain office and the position rightfully.
Patrick Larubi, a former contestant for Alokolum ward in Bardege-Layibi divisions, accused the close allies of some incumbent politicians of fueling misunderstandings among the politicians, noticing that some incumbent politicians are good but are misled by their allies.
Arthur Owor, the political analyst, says the incumbent politicians are changing from acts of blackmail, threats, or harassment to the usage of money they have raised during their time in office to bribe voters while other areas are rigging elections.
Recently, Forum for Democratic Change FDC members in Gulu City decried the high level of commercialization of politics, saying it influences electorates to vote for money but not the quality of the leaders.
According to the Electoral Commission road map released in 2023, July 2024 is designated for the demarcation of electoral areas. Meanwhile, an update of the voter’s register will happen in July 2025.
The presidential nomination is slated for October 2nd and 3rd, 2025, while the election will be conducted on January 12, 2026, accordingly.
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