*OJARA MARTIN Mapenduzi WAS AN NRM SERVING IN FDC* 

Mapenduzi in MO With NRM

By Andua Martin Drani
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There has been some debate regarding the “crossing” of Ojara Martin Mapenduzi Member of  Parliament representing Gulu West (Bardege-Layibi Division) to the NRM after he resigned as Chairperson of the Local Government Public Accounts Committee (LGPAC) to which he was appointed by NUP in the belief that having being a member of the FDC, he was an opposition politician. 

When Mapenduzi presented the petition to censure Francis Zaake as a Commissioner of parliament, I wrote an article titled “NUP erred in appointing Ojara Martin Mapinduzi as Chairperson Locan Government Public Accpunts Committee”

I argued that majority of politicians who abandon a political party in opposition to stand as independent,  are on the way to join the NRM, such politicians only fear open declaration due shame and want to cultivate support from both sides. By presenting the censor motion, Ojara actually passed his confirmation interview to publically join the NRM. The NRM is sometimes not sure of those who have belonged to other sides and needs such public display to confirm the switch. 

Secondly, the grounds of the censure motion were very frivolous. The word “ejaculation” which was the basis of the censor was totally misinterpreted by Ojara and subsequently by the Rules and Privileges Committee headed by Abdu Katuntu, another former FDC who stood as an independent. Mapenduzi and parliament failed to understand that the context in which Zaake used the word was to mean “uttering something without proper thought or reflection”

He (Mapenduzi), then went ahead to seal his crossing to the NRM by signing what is ridiculously called an MoU, a diplomatic way of referring to defection, a term which sounds negative. While appearing on the NBS morning breeze, he tried to deny he had crossed to the NRM which was futile because the NRM party posted on its website that “by signing the MoU, Ojara Martin Mapenduzi is now an NRM party member”.

The second dimension of the MoU is always about a job/position. Those who sign  the MoUs get appointments instantly. Norbert Mao secured the position of Minister for Constitutional Affairs alongside Siranda who was elected to EALA.

We have since learnt that the former Mayor of the then Gulu City, Acire recruited Ojara into FDC and I met Ojara for the first time some twelve years ago at Church Hill Hotel in Gulu while he was Chairman of Gulu. We interacted briefly over lunch alongside Reagan Okumu, I was keen to understand the personality of Ojara as he had been presented as a very good performing District Chairman and an FDC. 

I have not been surprised about the “crossing” of Ojara to NRM based on my judgment of him when we met for the first time. Ojara appeared less interested and aloof to the discussion we held on democracy and good governance. He was more like an observer. His body language did not reveal that he had belief and commitment to the fight for democracy and good governance. He occasionally grinned without showing evidence of his understanding of the task facing those fighting for democratic space. In fact, he appeared satisfied with the status quo.

Watching him debate on the Behind the headlines show on UBC where he is a panelist, Ojara sounds vague, non-committal , unconvincing and lacks clarity on critical matters of governance, corruption, and human rights abuse. His body language always suggested he was in bed with the NRM. That explains why as soon as he resigned as Chairperson of the LGPAC, a position was secured and he was swiftly appointed as Chairperson of the Public Service Committee of parliament.