FDC MPs heckled for ‘undermining’ Amuriat

Soroti. Soroti District Forum for Democratic Change legislators (FDC) faced humiliation from the voters after they accused them of undermining their party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat.
This happened during a thanksgiving ceremony organised for Mr Amuriat at Soroti sports ground at the weekend.
The voters booed Soroti Municipality MP Herbert Edmund Ariko and Soroti District Woman MP Angelline Osegge despite earlier pleas by Catholic liturgy team to embrace unity and tolerance.
Both legislators are members of former FDC president Mugisha Muntu’s campaign taskforce.
The chaotic rant against the two MPs started when the FDC party spokesperson, Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, introduced the area MPs and invited them to address the people.
The crowds turned rowdy and attempted to obstruct the two MPs from addressing them.
Mr Ariko while addressing them claimed there were some leaders plotting his downfall.
“I came voluntarily for a service, I still subscribe to FDC party,” he said amid heckling from the crowd.
Attempts by the party chairperson, Mr Wasswa Birigwa, to plead to the gathering to exercise restraint and forgiveness fell on death ears as they asked the two MPs to first apologise to them.
“Please listen to me, have a heart, learn to forgive. All the times I have come here was to ensure we have good leadership, let’s be one,” he appealed.
The legislators instead took to their seats as the heckling subsided.
Mr Ariko said: “I was happy Amuriat invited me for the thanksgiving, though some people had advised me not to attend.”
Mr Amuriat said his election as party president for FDC brings pride to Teso Sub-region.
He appealed to people of Teso to embrace his victory, noting that the area has been a “sleeping giant” and that intends to wake them up.
“When our cows were stolen, they kept deceiving us about compensations, they took us to the camps. I am saying we should have our pride back,” he said.
Mr Amuriat, who was accompanied by key stalwarts from the FDC fraternity, said there is need to uphold unity, adding that the people of Teso should collaborate with other regions to achieve the common agenda for change.
The four-time presidential flag bearer for FDC, Dr Kiiza Besigye, said he was in Teso to celebrate a strong a leader.
He said the biggest problem Uganda has is leadership.