500 FDC supporters defected to NRM in Soroti, Welcomed By Capt. Mukula

Soroti City on Saturday witnessed a major political event as Mike Mukula, the NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda, hosted over 500 alleged converts from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

The community members publicly declared their support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), a move Mukula hailed as a significant step toward uniting the region under NRM's development agenda.

“The future is bright, but it is only bright for those who are clear. The NRM is the only party that can brighten the future of the youth Mukula stated, ”

Mukula expressed concerns about Soroti City being an isolated stronghold of the FDC in a region where NRM has gained dominance. “Many strong FDC members have already crossed to the NRM and are actively working with us. It is time Soroti City aligns with the progress happening in other parts of the region,” he said.

Mukula pledged to organize an ideological orientation session within two weeks to help young people understand their role in Uganda’s development journey.

He highlighted the lack of ideological clarity among the youth, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the country’s progress while addressing challenges such as rural poverty, unemployment, ignorance, poor service delivery, and corruption.

“The youth need to be brought on board to create solutions and seize the opportunities the government is offering,” Mukula said, while assuring the converts of the NRM’s commitment to empowering them.

John Robert Kalimba Kakola a local mobilizer, revealed that his decision to cross to the NRM was influenced by the overwhelming desire of his supporters.

“I could not cross alone. My people and supporters have been yearning to leave FDC, and today, we have made that decision together,” Kalokola stated.

Willy Bisanga, the NRM chairman for Soroti City, expressed optimism about engaging the youth in development programs. “There’s a big reason to work with young people now. They are willing and ready to champion the NRM’s development agenda,” Bisanga said.

However, the move drew criticism from FDC leaders.

Paul Omer, the FDC presidential envoy for Teso who dismissed the defections as opportunistic.

“It’s a dry spell, and people are looking for money. NRM fellows are just fetching money from Museveni. This has nothing to do with genuine political alignment,” Omer remarked.

Omer further accused the NRM of failing to address critical issues in the region.

“Instead of preaching about cheap crossings, Mukula should focus on uniting leaders to bring development to Teso. Why hasn’t the government invested in innovative ideas like setting up industries in the Soroti Industrial Park to create jobs for the youth?”

Despite the defections, Omer dismissed the significance of the event, describing it as a distraction from the government’s responsibility to deliver tangible results.

“It’s the government in power that must ensure the youth have jobs and opportunities. Empty rhetoric will not solve the region’s problems,” he concluded.

As the political landscape in Soroti City East evolves,and as we enter new year of politics Mukula and his team remain confident that their efforts will consolidate NRM’s support in the region.

However, opposition voices continue to challenge the ruling party to address the core issues facing the community.

The coming weeks will reveal whether the ideological orientation Mukula plans will further solidify the NRM’s influence or provoke more debates about Soroti s political and developmental priorities.