Moyo, Uganda: The race for West Moyo County has intensified after parliamentary candidate Dr Charles Lagu called on police to investigate incumbent MP Hon. Aza Tom Alero for allegedly spreading inflammatory falsehoods that he says could incite violence ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Dr Lagu made the demand during a rally at Lea Village in Aluru Subcounty, accusing Hon. Aza of repeatedly making public statements that endanger peace and mislead voters. He claimed the incumbent has been telling supporters that gangs linked to his (Lagu’s) campaign team sneaked a 20-litre jerrycan of petrol into his compound in an alleged attempt to set his house ablaze—an accusation Dr Lagu says is fabricated.
“Hon. Aza falsely claims that my campaign agents and supporters were responsible for the violence in Moyo town on the polling day of the NRM primaries, which disrupted business for food vendors and hawkers whose properties were looted,” Dr Lagu said.
The independent candidate argued that such allegations are serious, require urgent investigation, and could fuel unnecessary conflict if left unchecked. He added that should the claims be found untrue, Hon. Aza should face charges for spreading false information “because it appears he wants to draw political sympathy from voters.”
The political environment in Moyo District has taken an emotionally charged turn, with alliances forming well ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The incumbent district chairman, Hon. Anyama Williams, Hon. Aza Tom, and Bernadette Kodili have aligned on one side of the political divide, an alliance that swept all three to victory in the NRM primaries.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Primary Education, Hon. Moriku Joyce Kaducu, who lost the NRM flag in the primaries, is now politically aligned with Dr Lagu.
The two, who both chose to run as independents in a bid to challenge the NRM electoral process in the general elections, deny having a formal alliance but remain openly critical of the manner in which the primaries were conducted.
North West Nile Region Police spokesperson Asea Collins said police have no record of a formal complaint regarding Hon. Aza Tom’s alleged statements. He advised Dr Lagu to submit an official report so that investigations can begin.
“My office has no record of these matters. We advise all political and electoral concerns to be reported formally to police so that swift action can be taken. Unfortunately, these issues are often raised at campaign rallies or public gatherings, which generates misleading reactions and unfounded blame on the police,” Asea said.
The developments further heighten tensions in West Moyo’s political landscape as rivals prepare for what is expected to be one of the region’s most closely watched parliamentary contests.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
