Kole North Incumbent Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti In Trouble As Grassroots Top Moblisers Defect to Independent Judith Alyek Days Before Campaign Launch

KOLE, UGANDA— The re-election campaign of Kole North Member of Parliament and NRM flag bearer, Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, has plunged into disarray barely a week after the Electoral Commission closed nominations, following a wave of defections by key National Resistance Movement (NRM) grassroots leaders to his main challenger, **Independent candidate Judith Alyek.

The mass exodus — involving dozens of influential village and parish mobilizers — has reportedly shattered Dr. Acuti’s campaign machinery, prompting panic within his camp and deep unease among top NRM officials in Kole District.

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“The Party is Here, But Our Flag Bearer Is Weak”: NRM Leaders Declare Rebellion**

The dramatic defection unfolded at a tense meeting held in Aboke Sub-county on Tuesday at the home of Kole North former MP Bonny Okello, where several NRM local leaders publicly withdrew their support from Dr. Acuti, accusing him of political arrogance, broken promises, and alienation from the party rank and file.

> “We are the NRM. We still believe in the party and in President Museveni, but our MP has lost his way,” declared Mr. Ogal James, an NRM parish leader from Apala in Alito Sub-county.

The dissenting leaders accused Dr. Acuti of maintaining what they described as an “elitist disconnect”* from ordinary voters and party structures. They claimed the MP had failed to address pressing community concerns such as poor road infrastructure, collapsing health centers, and deteriorating education standards.

> “For five years, our calls for meetings on key issues went unanswered. Dr. Acuti only remembers us during elections. We cannot market a candidate who no longer respects his own people,” lamented **Jimmy Ongwang**, a veteran NRM mobilizer from Kole North.

High-Profile Defectors Join Alyek’s Camp

Among those who have publicly crossed over to support Judith Alyek include:

Obong Johnson Agenda, NRM Vice Chairperson for Aboke Sub-county, Ongom Solomon, NRM Parish Registrar, and

Jimmy Ongwang, a former lead mobilizer for Dr. Acuti’s 2021 campaign.

These individuals played central roles in Dr. Acuti’s previous electoral victory and were instrumental in coordinating voter mobilization at the village level. Their defection has been described by analysts as “a political earthquake” for the incumbent.

 “These are not just supporters — they are the architects of past NRM victories in Kole North. By bringing them onboard, Judith Alyek hasn’t just gained votes; she has inherited the incumbent’s entire grassroots playbook,” observed a local political analyst.

Independent candidate Judith Alyek, who previously served as Kole Woman MP, welcomed the defectors, describing their decision as a “people’s revolution against betrayal and political neglect.”

“This is a clear message from the people of Kole North,” Alyek said. “They are tired of being taken for granted. They want leadership that listens, not leadership that disappears until election time.”

Alyek, who is campaigning on a platform of *“service, integrity, and restoration of community trust,”* is said to be gaining significant traction, especially among NRM-leaning voters disillusioned by internal party conflicts.

In response, Ms. Lilian Anyati, the Kole District NRM Chairperson, acknowledged and warned party leaders against openly backing independent candidates.

 “We are aware of some leaders supporting independents. ” Anyati said, adding that any NRM official contesting as an independent or supporting one would be required to relinquish their party position immediately.

Sources within the district party structures told this publication that top NRM officials have already convened emergency meetings to contain the rebellion, with some calling for the resignation of defected leaders and the possible suspension of those who defy the party line.

The timing of the revolt could not be worse for Dr. Acuti. With the official campaign period now underway, his team faces the daunting task of rebuilding a crippled grassroots network while his rival capitalizes on newfound momentum and insider knowledge of NRM’s past voter mobilization strategy.

Political watchers say the Kole North race, once considered a comfortable hold for the ruling party, is now one of the most unpredictable contests in the Lango Sub-region.

“The political ground has shifted beneath Dr. Acuti’s feet,” remarked another analyst. “He’s now fighting for his political survival with his own base in open revolt.”

Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, a health policy expert and pharmacist, first entered Parliament in 2021 as Independent ticket, defeating then-Bonny Okello Aka Okello Kony.  

As Kole North braces for a fierce electoral showdown, one thing is clear — the cracks within the NRM’s local machinery have now burst into the open, and the battle for the hearts and minds of voters has just begun.