By Our Reporter,
AMOLATAR,
A crucial meeting convened to assess the accountability of funds used during the President’s recent campaign visit to Amolatar District ended in disarray on Wednesday, exposing deep-seated divisions within the ruling party’s local leadership.
The meeting, called by the District NRM Chairman, Mr. Kamilo Olwit, was abruptly called off after three senior party flag bearers failed to appear without prior notice or apologies, leading to a revolt from grassroots chairpersons.
The absentees included the Kioga North MP Aspirant, Mr. Peter Okodo; the LCV Chairperson Aspirant, Mr. James Auma; and the incumbent District Woman MP, Dr. Agnes Atim Apea. Their absence effectively stalled the proceedings, as they were the primary figures expected to answer questions regarding the presidential visit.
The meeting quickly descended into chaos as sub-county NRM chairpersons voiced their frustration. They unanimously declared that proceeding without the three key aspirants was pointless, as they were the ones responsible for addressing the concerns raised.
“The chairpersons were very clear: they could not proceed with an accountability meeting when the very people they needed answers from were not present,” a source who attended the meeting told this publication. “The mood was one of betrayal.”
The discontent went beyond mere absenteeism. Several sub-county chairpersons leveled serious accusations against the trio, alleging they are fostering division within the party.
Some leaders accused Dr. Agnes Atim Apea of openly campaigning against another NRM flag bearer, Mr. Felix Adupa Ongwech, the Kioga County MP Aspirant. “They accused her of telling them not to vote for Ongwech, which goes against the party’s principle of rallying behind all its flag bearers,” the source added.
Furthermore, the leaders claimed that the three absent flag bearers presented their personal interests to the President instead of the community’s pressing issues that had been agreed upon in several preparatory meetings held before the visit.
The anger was not directed solely at the absentees. A significant section of the grassroots leaders turned their fire on the District NRM Chairman, Mr. Kamilo Olwit, accusing him of complicity.
They alleged that Mr. Olwit frequently holds “secret meetings” with the trio—Okodo, Auna, and Atim Apea—while sidelining Mr. Felix Adupa Ongwech. This, they argued, contradicts his public calls for unity and support for all party candidates.
“He advocates for us to support all flag bearers, but his actions show he is only siding with a select few. How can we trust his leadership?” one agitated chairperson was quoted as saying during the heated session.
In a dramatic resolution that signals a major crack in the party’s local structure, the sub-county chairpersons agreed they would no longer rally support for all NRM flag bearers as a bloc.
Citing a lack of party spirit and unity among the aspirants, the leaders declared they would instead only support the few candidates who consistently cooperate with them at the grassroots level.
When contacted for a comment, Mr. Kamilo Olwit acknowledged the meeting’s cancellation but declined to comment on the specific allegations against him, stating he would “address the issues internally.”
Repeated attempts to get a comment from Dr. Agnes Atim Apea, Mr. Peter Okodo, and Mr. James Auma were unsuccessful as their known phone numbers were either switched off or went unanswered.
The fallout from this failed meeting poses a significant challenge to the NRM’s cohesion in Amolatar, potentially weakening its campaign machinery as the election season intensifies.
