DISABLED PERSON UNION LEADERSHIP ON SPOT OVER CORRUPTION
He also accused the union of collecting donated equipment from the hands of beneficiaries who were trained in Hanks skills under VSO and given tools, equipment, and material as their startup capital in
By Christopher Nyeko
GULU: Activists advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in Gulu City have appealed to the state house anti-corruption unit and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to probe the leadership of the Gulu Disabled Person Union (GDPU).
During the dialogue convened by the Gulu City Resident Commissioner at GDPU recently, activists alleged that the union’s leadership is swindling money, abusing office, doubling positions, practicing nepotism, and failing to deliver accountability, something for which they called for an immediate investigation.
Oryem John Bosco, PWDs, and activists alleged that the union has received donations from development partners, well-wishers, and international donors for the past five years but has never accounted for this, making members suspicious.
He also accused the union of collecting donated equipment from the hands of beneficiaries who were trained in Hanks skills under VSO and given tools, equipment, and material as their startup capital in
Stephen Opwonya, another activist who doubles as Chairperson of Gulu City NRM PWDs, wondered why the union’s original name, Gulu Disabled Person Union, was changed to Gulu Union for Persons with Disability without consulting members of the union.
The decision Opwonya says contravenes the constitution of the Union
Opwonya is now worried that the union leadership is swindling money and feeding members the wrong accountability given the fact that they are operating under two different names.
Abalo Jennifer Oloya, Board Member, Gulu Disabled Person Union, who doubles as councilor representing the PWDs in Bardege Layibi Division Council, says she is green about changing the union’s name and requested the Chairperson Board clarify on the matter.
Faruk Musema, program manager for the Gulu Disabled Person Union, trashes the allegation, saying it’s propaganda and rumor mongering, and requests that they seek authentic information and also have a positive attitude toward the union.
Geoffrey Ali, Chairperson Board GDPU, warned a section of PWDs against focusing on rumor mongering rather than hard work, saying that the union continues to help thousands of PWDs and has kept all the records.
Ali, however, napped on the issue of changing the union’s name, telling members that the union still uses the original name, which is legally registered.
Meanwhile, Ongom Simon, former GDPU Board Chairperson, called for strengthening the leadership structure of GDPU.
In her responses, Jane Fancies Okili, the Gulu City RCC advised the union leadership to always involve its members in decision-making and give information to the members to avoid suspension. She called for peaceful coexistence.
The 2019 headcount conducted by the Gulu Union for Disabled Persons indicates that there are a total of 32,259 persons with disabilities in Gulu. However, statistics revealed by Bardege Layibi Division in 2023 show that out of a total population of 271,000 people, the division has 500 PWDs.
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