Zombo, Uganda: Former Minister of State for Energy, Eng. Simon D’Ujanga has formally declared his bid for the Okoro County parliamentary seat as an independent candidate in the forthcoming 2026 general elections, despite reaffirming his allegiance to the ruling NRM party.
Eng. D’Ujanga, who served as Okoro County MP from 2000 until his defeat in 2021 by incumbent Gabriel Okumu, said his return to elective politics is driven by the demand for value-based, transformational leadership from constituents, coupled with widespread calls for his political comeback.
Speaking to DailyExpress on Sunday, July 20, 2025, D’Ujanga confirmed his decision follows consultations with stakeholders and delegations across the constituency urging him to return to active politics.
“It is worth noting that these requests came at a time when the NRM primary process had already advanced. I could not participate in the party primaries, but I remain committed to NRM as my political home,” he said.
D’Ujanga’s comeback agenda is anchored on leveraging his energy sector background to drive industrialization, aimed at addressing youth unemployment through the expansion of electrification and the operationalization of industrial parks within Zombo, Nebbi, Koboko, and the broader West Nile region.
The former minister holds a Master’s degree in Machine and Power Systems from Aston University, Birmingham (UK), and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University, qualifications he says position him to lobby effectively for investment, infrastructure, and incentives necessary to spur industrial growth in Okoro County.
Central to his campaign pledge is utilizing Uganda’s stabilized national grid to promote small and large-scale industrialization, targeting both urban centers and rural communities through initiatives supporting women-led businesses and youth enterprises in line with Uganda’s national development agenda of transitioning more citizens into the money economy.
The Okoro County MP seat is expected to attract a fierce contest in 2026, with incumbent Gabriel Okumu (NRM flagbearer), Rwothomio Sam, Onega Innocent, and now Simon D’Ujanga all vying for the position amid growing political competition in Zombo District.
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