By Derrick Omoding
On Wednesday morning, Soroti City’s social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp groups, were filled with anger and frustration from residents and supporters of Joan Alobo Acom, the Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament (MP).
The outrage was sparked by allegations that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership in Soroti City had sidelined Alobo from preparations for the upcoming belated Women’s Day celebrations, scheduled for 25th April 2025.
The uproar began when Shaban Ali, a well-known supporter and mobilizer of the NRM in Soroti City East Division, posted on ‘Aribabai Updates,’ a popular WhatsApp group in Teso, claiming that Sarah Inachu, an aspirant for the Soroti City Woman MP seat, had taken over the Women’s Day preparations.
This revelation did not sit well with many, who questioned why the sitting Woman MP, Joan Alobo Acom, had been excluded from the event planning, especially since parliamentary guidelines typically allow the Woman MP to spearhead such activities.
Angry citizens accused the NRM leadership of deliberately disrespecting Alobo by sidelining her from such an important occasion. According to them, this act of disregard extended beyond the MP herself and was an insult to the voters who elected her into office. The exclusion of Alobo has stirred significant frustration, with residents expressing their dissatisfaction online.
Supporters of Alobo sent strong warnings to Sarah Inachu, accusing her of engaging in “cheap politics” and “witch-hunting” the sitting Woman MP during an event meant to celebrate women. Many have urged Inachu to stop exploiting the Women’s Day celebration for political gain, accusing her of using ceremonial events to gain popularity in Soroti City.
Under Uganda’s law, each district has an organizing committee for the Women’s Council, with the Woman MP serving as the secretary and responsible for Women’s Day arrangements. In this case, Inachu is not a member of this committee, which has led to accusations that she is sabotaging the belated Women’s Day celebrations in Soroti City. Many citizens have called on parliament to take action against her for what they view as misconduct and an overstep of her role as an aspirant.
When reached for comment, Joan Alobo Acom denied receiving any official notification about the arrangements for Women’s Day. She said she is making her own preparations for the celebration and distanced herself from Inachu’s actions.
“I am aware it is politics time and everyone wants to take advantage of any event attracting numbers. I only urge my colleagues that the belated Women’s Day celebration will not be for me alone, neither for FDC nor NRM as parties, but for the people of Soroti. We all need to join hands and work together despite our political differences,” Alobo said during a phone call.
She added that she is still consulting with the city authorities to set a suitable date for the Women’s Day celebration and urged the public not to cause chaos over the matter.
Efforts to reach Sarah Inachu for comment were unsuccessful. However, she had responded to criticism on social media before quickly deleting her post for reasons unknown to the public.
This incident has brought to the surface political tensions in Soroti City, echoing similar conflicts from the past.
In 2023, Soroti City witnessed clashes between supporters of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the police when authorities attempted to block them from celebrating the belated Women’s Day at Soroti Public Gardens. At the time, the Soroti Resident City Commissioner, Peter Pex Paak, faced heavy criticism for disrupting the celebrations, a move that was condemned by parliament as an infringement on women’s rights.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the belated Women’s Day celebrations will proceed in Soroti City.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges of political competition in Uganda, where even ceremonial events can become battlegrounds for political maneuvering.
The people of Soroti will be closely watching to see if a resolution can be reached, ensuring that Women’s Day is celebrated in a spirit of unity rather than division.