OYAM, UGANDA: At Least eleven {11} people are in the race for the Oyam North parliamentary seat under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ruling party ticket. The position fell vacant after the death of Col (Rtd)Okello Engola Mac-Odwogo who was on May 2nd gunned down by his bodyguard PTE Wilson Sabiiti in Kyanja, Kampala.
The hottest aspirants go head-to-head as they wait for communication from the NRM electoral body on the official date for the primaries.
DailyExpress has listed below the candidates to help you make your own analysis and help the NRM party to choose the best out of them to be a flag bearer of the party in the forthcoming Oyam North By-Election.
1. Samuel Engola Okello
Samuel Engola Okello is battling to become the NRM flag bearer together with other ten aspirants after he was endorsed by the family members to replace his father RIP Rtd Col. Engola.
In his campaign poster, he wrote about peace, unity and the development of households.
Okello is seen by many as an energetic-young NRM cadre who can replace his father in the 11TH parliament.
2. Ambassador Moto Julius Peter
Ambassador Moto Julius Peter, a renowned economist with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, declared his intention to succeed the late Okello Engola. For over 30 years, he successfully worked uninterrupted in Pretoria and Uk as a Ugandan Ambassador among other works he did.
The 56-year-old Moto, who worked for 32 years – uninterrupted service to humanity – in Uganda and around the world, said he can change things around.
“I am a good researcher and a good debater. So, I think I’m a suitable candidate for the people of Oyam North. I think the people of Oyam North are going to get quality material sent to Parliament to continue the work of Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo who passed away two weeks ago,” Mr Moto said.
He said he is not stepping down in favour of anybody because he knows he is the right candidate for the job. “I think I am a very suitable candidate for the people of Oyam North but I will lobby for my fellow aspirant to be employed by H.E the president in several government offices,” said Moto speaking to DailyExpress last week.
3. Ms Queen Dorothy Amolo
Ms Queen Dorothy Amolo, a US-based investor who executed several development partnerships with the late minister Engola, has abandoned Oyam South where she lost the seat to Gender Minister Betty Amongi in 2021 and has now shifted to Oyam North.
Queen Dorothy Amolo is eying the NRM flag and is also holding several fruitful consultation meetings as the election dates draw nearer.
4. Obangakene Augustine
Obangakene Augustine Is really determined for Oyam NRM Primaries. Obangakene has printed many campaign posters, held many consultations and met several of the NRM village, parish and sub-county organs.
Hopefully, he may become the next MP of OYAM North County replacing the late Col.Mac-Odwogo.
5. Willy Omodo Omodo
Willy Omodo Omodo, the former NRM Youth Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, said in the interest of the local community, he is contesting for 2023-2026 as an MP for Oyam North County.
This is because in the last election of 2021, he contested with the late Mac-odwogo during the NRM primaries but somehow his votes were suspected to have been grabbedNow is the time to show to the people of Oyam his capability as many are having hope in him for the flag of NRM.
6. Billie Otto
Mr Billie Otto, a journalist working with 97.7 Unity FM in Lira and also the Oyam LC5 councillor, has done all it takes to become the Oyam North NRM Flag bearer.
Other three aspirants including; Alfred Okello Obaro; Adonyo Tonny; and Alinaitwe Henry couldn’t be reached by DailyExpress for their independent views.
Meanwhile, the individual elected at NRM flag bearer will face off with other political party candidates like FDC, NUP, UPC, and DP Independent among others.
Dr Eunice Apio Otuku of the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party remains the biggest threat from the opposition after he was widely backed by the Gender minister Amongi in 2021.
In 2021, then NRM’s candidate Okello Engola Macodwogo retained the Oyam North seat after garnering 22,895 votes, beating four others. UPC’s Apio Otuku polled 17,114 votes; Krispus Ayena Odongo (Ind) managed 8, 498 votes, Henry Oboke Edonga and Nam Joe, all Independents polled 175 votes and 140 votes respectively.
Counsel Ayena, who is also contesting again, pulled out of UPC primaries last week, prompting the UPC secretariat to declare Dr Apio Otuku as their flagbearer.
Mr Ayena, the former lead counsel of jailed ex-Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen, said he was opting for “Plan B”, without divulging details.
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