By Christopher Oola
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has organized a two day retreat for the opposition and independent Members of Parliament (MP) from Acholi sub region to sensitize them on the various government poverty alleviation programs being implemented in the region, one of the poorest regions in the country. In total, 11 opposition and Independent Mps have been invited for the retreat that started on Thursday at the Murchison Falls National Game Park.
However, a section of the legislators from the region are opposed to the retreat arguing that it will bring suspicion and disunity among the lawmakers.
According to Charles Onen, the MP for Laroo-Pece division, their counterparts in the NRM party should have been invited for the retreat to avoid suspicions. His argument was also reiterated by Betty Aol Ochan, the Gulu city woman MP.
But Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South MP, defended the invitation saying the initiative will provide an avenue for the opposition MPs to present alternative views to government and other pressing issues affecting Acholi sub region.
Acholi sub-region has for decades been a stronghold for the opposition not until of recent that their influence have started fading with the NRM taking upper hands.