Jacob Odela, the former General Secretary of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for Soroti District and an aspiring Member of Parliament for Gweri County, has defected to the People Front for Freedom (PFF).
Odela has been a member of the FDC since 2006, but cited irregularities and alleged financial misconduct within the party as the primary reasons for his departure. Odela, who served as the General Secretary for Soroti District from 2023 to 2025, resigned due to ongoing divisions within the party.
Odela had initially picked nomination forms from the FDC to contest against the incumbent MP, Tom Julius Ekudo. He explained that the party’s electoral commission vetted four candidates, including himself, and he was approved to run.
However, a disagreement arose when the party leadership insisted on fronting Ekudo as the sole candidate. In response, the candidates agreed to hold structural elections to determine the party’s representative.
According to Odela, as they prepared for the elections, the top leadership unexpectedly issued a letter halting the process, citing alleged irregularities. To his dismay, he later learned that the FDC had awarded the party flag to Ekudo without conducting the elections. “We wasted time and resources engaging with party structures across all sub-counties, only to have the election process dismissed without any clear notification,” Odela said.
He described the current FDC leadership under Patrick Amuriat Oboi as self-serving, prioritising personal gain over party growth. “Many of us feel undervalued because we lack the financial means to influence decisions. Those who served the party based on ideals are being overshadowed by money,” he added.
Daniel Eigu, the FDC Chairperson for Soroti District, acknowledged that defections are a common occurrence in politics and do not signify the downfall of the party. “Many prominent figures, including the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Among Anita and Dr. Kizza Besigye, have left the party, yet we remain strong. Odela’s departure will not lead to the demise of the FDC in Gweri, Soroti, or Uganda,” Eigu stated.
Eigu dismissed Odela’s allegations regarding financial misconduct, asserting that the FDC operates under a constitution that governs its activities. “The party supports all its members, and the claim of money exchanging hands is unfounded. URN