Pallisa, Uganda: Former Agule County MP Polycarp Ogwari, who was ejected from Parliament by the Court of Appeal following a petition by incumbent David Ochwa, has vowed to return to the ballot in the 2026 general elections as an independent candidate.
Hon. Ogwari has embarked on a mobilisation drive across Agule Constituency, citing irregularities in the recent NRM primary elections, which he rejected as fraudulent.
“I cannot respect an exercise in which election officials were compromised, filled declaration forms without conducting proper voter roll calls, and even allowed children under 18 years to vote. That’s totally against our constitution,” Ogwari said, insisting he would instead contest in the general elections supervised by the Electoral Commission under Justice Simon Byabakama.
He dismissed the NRM primary results, which declared Josephine Ibaseret the winner, as “cooked”, alleging that the process was manipulated by the district party leadership. According to the announced results, Ibaseret polled 3,338 votes, Ogwari 3,332, Bishop Simon Peter Oullo 1,754, Oello Herbert 1,548, Patrick Okiring 192, and Okiria Denis Sam 74.
Ogwari told DailyExpress that his development programs — which he says were interrupted by Ochwa’s legal challenge — remain on course. These include lobbying for new seed secondary schools in Chelekura, Agule, Akisim, and Boliso sub-counties, securing codes for six community primary schools, providing a ferry for Lake Nyaguo, improving UPE school infrastructure, establishing skilling centres in Kameke and Agule, lobbying for a government ambulance, and pushing for cattle compensation.
Mr. Arionget Patrick, Akisim Sub-county Chairperson and County Coordinator for Team Ogwari, vowed to rally support for Ogwari, not Ibaseret, whom he accused of benefiting from a fraudulent process.
“I would have supported any flag bearer as an ardent NRM supporter, but since the elections were not fairly handled, I treat that as just the preliminaries. The real election is ahead. No one should blame me for my decision,” Arionget said.
Yusuf Edakasi from Agule Sub-county noted that the evidence of malpractice in the NRM primaries was strong enough for a legal petition, but the team resolved to focus efforts on winning at the general elections in January 2026.
“In 2021, Ogwari ran on an independent ticket and we jealously guarded our votes. Even in 2026, the very victory awaits,” Edakasi said.
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