DP delegates weep over transport refund in Gulu
Mr Norbert Mao (C) and other DP delegates at the delegates conference in Gulu
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Ms Babirye Mary Kabanda, the party’s national treasurer said that she did not anticipate any member who attended the delegates to lodge a complaint related to transport refund since all of them had been covered
GULU- At least 42 members of the Opposition Democratic Party (DP) members from Karamoja Sub-region who attended the party’s national delegates conference in Gulu City were on Monday stranded after failing to secure transport refund from party leaders.
DP held a three-day national delegates conference at Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School in Gulu City at the weekend.
After the meeting, delegates from Karamoja Sub-region were seen sobbing before helpless DP leaders.
They accused party leaders of treating them unfairly despite “sacrificing a lot for the party” in a region which is ignored by most political parties.
They each demanded Shs450, 000 as transport refund, an amount the DP leadership said was unjustifiable.
Trouble started when delegates from other sub-regions received their transport refund and started to vacate the venue while delegates from Karamoja were advised to hold on as the party officials handled their case.
Mr Clement Okot, one of the aggrieved delegates said it was unfair to be treated like animals after participating in the affairs of the party.
“Each of us from Karamoja spent Shs200,000 as transport fare to travel to Gulu City. Giving us less [money] would tantamount to cheating,” Mr Okot said.
He said that apart from transport, they had to foot feeding and accommodation bills which the party also failed refund.
Mr Justine Obol, the DP regional representative for Acholi Sub-region said it was wrong for delegates from Karamoja to expect a “cash bonanza” because the party has financial challenges.
He said that the party leadership decided to give Karamoja delegates Shs 150,000 as transport refund.
“In any organisation there is always an aggrieved person. We don’t have the financial strength like other political parties. So, let us appreciate the little facilitation we receive from our party”, Mr Obol said.
He said the party had incurred more expenses to host delegates from Karamoja because they arrived a day to the beginning of the delegates conference.
Ms Babirye Mary Kabanda, the party’s national treasurer said that she did not anticipate any member who attended the delegates to lodge a complaint related to transport refund since all of them had been covered.
“We allocated Shs7 million as transport refund for delegates from Karamoja Sub region. I expected them to be mature and share the money accordingly,” Ms Kabanda said.
