Dokolo By-election: Opposition hit at NRM over poor service

Dokolo (UG):- As Dokolo District prepares for the forthcoming by-election to fill the Woman Member of Parliament seat, the opposition party has criticized the ruling NRM government over poor service in Uganda.

The seat fell vacant after the death of the former Woman MP, Hon. Cecilia Atim Ogwal on 18 January 2024.

The Electoral Commission set March 21st, 2024, as a date for Dokolo Woman MP by-election with a a total of seven candidates nominated for the race.

These include Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Janet Rose Adongo Elau from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Sarah Aguti from Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), and Harriet Ageno from the National Unity Platform (NUP).

Others are Esther Akullo Obot, Anna Grace Lalam, and Rebecca Arao all are independent candidates.

In the heated ongoing campaigns in the northern Uganda district, the Uganda People Congress Party through its president, Mr Jimmy James Micheal Akena Obote has hit at the government over the selective award of statehouse scholarships to students who study at public universities.

Speaking at the campaign rally for UPC party flag bearer for Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament by-election Sara Aguti Nyangkori in Okwalongwen Sub County, Akena said children of the rich are being favoured to benefit the statehouse scholarship at the expense of bright but needy students.

He said in the past UPC government offered opportunities to students without discrimination, something he strive to revise.

Akena also decried the poor Education and healthcare system in Uganda which he claims is affecting service deliveries in those sectors and pledged to change once elected president of Uganda in the 2026 general election.

‘’What makes me sad is when you find bright but needy students neglected the chance to study. Contrary the children of the rich are the ones being supported. Those are some of the things that we need to change once we take over power,’’

Sarah Aguti, the UPC aspirant rallied voters to avoid being bribed to vote for a person who will represent them in parliament.

In the Forum for Democratic Party camp, Kyoga constituency member of parliament, Moses Junior Okot B’tek has challenged the ruling NRM Party over rising Youth unemployment.

Okot was speaking at Amwoma Sub County during the campaign rally for Dr Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal, the FDC flag bearer in Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament bye-election slated for 21st March 2024.

According to Okot, many youths graduate yearly from education institutions but most of them end up on bodaboda riding because the ruling government is full of corrupt officials who ask for kickbacks once those youth seek jobs.

However, The National Resistant Movement director for mobilization Dr Rosemary Nsubuga Seninde has asked the people of the Dokolo District to elect a person with Knowledge about the development gap in the district.

Seninde remarked at the campaign rally for the National Resistant Movement flag bearer for Dokolo woman Member of Parliament race Janet Adong Elau in Bata town council recently. She said people should elect a person who understands their problems and can work with the government to address them.

“I beg you, don’t be deceived by people who are coming to confuse you that they will do better for you, don’t accept to be deceived. It is only the NRM Party that has done a lot for Northern Uganda,” Ms Seninde preached.

She cited government programs such as Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood program and the Parish Development model among others which have relieved people from abject poverty.

According to Seninde, the reason why some people do not feel the usefulness of such a program is because of some selfish opposition leaders who were elected at the District level that are not making development reach the Wanainchi.

The NRM flag bearer Janet Adong Elau said that once elected as Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament she will work to improve the health service delivery in Dokolo District.