Oyam, Uganda: The LC5 Chairperson of Oyam District, Benson Dila, and Iceme Sub-county Councilor Tonny Ocen have reconciled after years of public hostilities that recently played out at community gatherings in Acaba and Iceme.
Ocen had called on voters to reject Dila’s leadership, claiming “his English lacks modification,” while Dila fired back at a burial, accusing the councilor of recklessness and gambling.
Their feud ended during an NRM meeting in Oyam Town on Wednesday, May 14 where both leaders, now members of the ruling NRM, pledged unity going forward.
“As a father, I am ready to adjust and cooperate with everyone,” Dila said. “Even within my own children, there are children among them who disturb. That does not mean you have a problem. I have never treated Regina as my enemy. I treated him as one of those who are only stubborn, so I have no problem. He asked for forgiveness. I have forgiven him wholeheartedly, from the bottom of my heart, and I want to request my God to forgive him too.”
Dila said all past tensions were political and pledged full commitment to work with every leader in the district.
Ocen, who recently crossed from UPC to NRM, said his past actions were strategic provocations meant to test leadership strength.
“I am a politician who joined for the first time, being new in the system and knowing very well that I was in opposition, we always oppose so many things and we always want to bring things to light,” Ocen said. “We also do provocation to find out what is right and what is wrong and also to check and balance how our leaders are. I only wanted to know how strong he is to handle issues of provocation.”
NRM District Registrar Jackline Adong applauded the two for reconciling and encouraged other members with grudges to follow their example.
“Such kind of reconciliation, it means with the NRM members we want unity. That’s why you saw such a thing happen in Oyam here,” she said.
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