ZOMBO: Commissioner Esther Afoyochan, Kwiocwiny Among 14 Nominated for Parliamentary Seats.

ZOMBO: Commissioner Esther Afoyochan, Kwiocwiny Among 14 Nominated for Parliamentary Seats.

By Mike Rwothomio 

In Zombo District, a political red carpet was rolled out as 14 parliamentary candidates were nominated, concluding a two-day nationwide nomination exercise. This sets the stage for the January 15, 2026, general elections.

The process, a critical milestone in the democratic process, saw fourteen aspirants cleared in Zombo for the Woman MP, Okoro County, and Ora County constituencies, pinpointing to a projected fiercely competitive race in this district.

The nomination exercise, conducted from October 22 to October 23, 2025, paves the way for candidates to launch their campaigns starting November 10, following a harmonization meeting on November 4.

 Zombo’s nomination process transformed the District EC offices on Ofaka Road, Paidha Town Council, into a pulsating hub of political activity, with Returning Officer Emmanuel Ogwang overseeing verifications and commending the peaceful conduct of candidates, supporters, and EC officials.

The contest for the Woman Member of Parliament seat has drawn a diverse field of candidates, each leveraging distinct platforms to appeal to Zombo’s electorate, which is increasingly vocal about infrastructure, poverty alleviation, and women’s empowerment.

Esther Afoyochan (NRM): The incumbent, nominated on October 23 after a rigorous verification process, anchored her campaign on poverty alleviation, aligning with President Museveni’s vision. 

Afoyochan highlighted her past five years’ achievements, including “distribution of basins to mothers who have given birth” to support maternal health. 

She emphasized tackling Zombo’s high poverty levels, which is a continuation of National Resistance Movement (NRM) priorities.

Sarah Adong (Democratic Party): Adong vowed fierce advocacy to address poor roads and underdevelopment, presenting herself as a champion for Zombo’s women, youth, and agrarian communities.

 “Today marks the dawn of desired change; Zombo needs a capable champion like me, strong voices for roads, jobs, and transformation in Parliament,” she declared, appealing to voters seeking robust opposition representation.

Topista Acamfua (Independent):

Running on a platform of inclusive representation, Acamfua prioritized women, youth, and families, advocating unity-driven development. “Unity drives progress; I’ll mindfully represent your interests, women, youth, and families first for holistic gains,” she stated, positioning herself as a non-partisan unifier appealing to diverse voter groups.

Gladys Ngamita (Independent):

Ngamita’s campaign focuses on advocating for teachers’ welfare and electing capable leaders to drive development. “If elected, I will champion the welfare of teachers and development in Zombo,” she asserted, leveraging her independent status to appeal to voters disillusioned with party politics.

Scholastic Uyullu (National Unity Platform): 

Uyullu, nominated on the NUP ticket, critiqued the lack of tangible development in Zombo, rallying supporters for transformative change.

 “There hasn’t been tangible development in Zombo district,” she observed, describing herself as a reformist candidate appealing to youth and opposition-leaning voters.

Okoro County Race:

The Okoro County constituency race features a crowded field of six candidates, reflecting a mix of incumbency, technocratic experience, and grassroots advocacy.

Innocent Onega Godfrey (Independent):

 The LCIII chairperson of Paidha Town Council, Onega campaigned on infrastructure and administrative upgrades, demanding “tarmac roads, elevation of Paidha Town Council to municipality status, and upgrading Paidha Health Centre III to Health Centre IV.” He urged voters to “rise up and reclaim Okoro County,” appealing to local governance priorities.

Winnifred Pacunega (Independent):

 Pacunega’s candidacy adds further depth to the independent wave, though her specific platform was not detailed in the nomination coverage.

Eng. Simon D’Ujanga (Independent): 

A former Okoro County MP and State Minister for Energy, D’Ujanga centered his campaign on a revivalist platform, emphasizing electrification and governance reform. “I’ll start where I stopped: extending electrification to every household, coordinating with the central government for true transformation,” he stated

Gabriel Okumu (NRM): The incumbent MP reaffirmed his commitment to NRM’s development agenda, focusing on government-led initiatives in roads, electricity, and jobs. “I assure my electorate that all the government programs we’ve advocated for will deliver tangible gains in roads, jobs, and power to every home,” Okumu pledged, banking on his track record and party loyalty.

Sunday Omirambe (Independent): 

A journalist-pastor-entrepreneur, Omirambe called for grassroots unity and economic uplift through job creation and infrastructure. 

“The commission’s fairness was top today; my agenda? Unity, job creation, infrastructure, key priorities to unite and uplift Okoro’s people,” he said, appealing to youth and undecided voters with a transparency-focused platform.

Vincent Orach Ocaya (Independent):

Ocaya premised his campaign on youth empowerment and economic connectivity to end regional isolation. “I bring real value, stronger lobbies for youth empowerment and economic bridges to end our isolation,” he declared, positioning himself as a dynamic advocate for marginalized groups.

The Ora County race features three candidates, each emphasizing development and representation to address local challenges.

Lawrence Songa Biyika (Independent):

 The incumbent MP pledged to complete ongoing projects in roads, health, and education. “I’ve achieved about 70 percent and have 30 percent left. I’ll accomplish core initiatives in the pipeline, roads, health, education to benefit Ora and all of Zombo,” he said, rallying support for President Museveni’s leadership.

Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny (NRM): 

The NRM flag bearer emphasized unity and the pro-people benefits of NRM governance. “My leadership will stand for the unity of the people, uplifting the status of Ugandans,” she declared, aligning her campaign with NRM’s national agenda.

Collins Jakony (People’s Front for Freedom): 

Jakony promised strengthened parliamentary representation to secure resources and accountability. “I’ll be the vital bridge between Ora voters and Parliament, delivering accountability and resources straight to you,” he stated, appealing to voters seeking effective advocacy.

Local political analysts note that Zombo’s electoral contest is uniquely competitive, with independents making significant inroads into a district traditionally dominated by the NRM, which historically secures over 70 percent of votes in election cycles. 

The recent NRM primaries have fractured party unity, with supporters divided over flag bearers, creating opportunities for opposition and independent candidates.

Francis Bolingo, leader of the opposition coalition in Zombo, expressed optimism about the diverse candidate pool from the Democratic Party (DP), National Unity Platform (NUP), People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), and independents. 

“This is a big progress for us because this is a district where NRM has a strong foothold. We shall continue pushing all together,” he stated, signaling a coordinated opposition strategy.

 With many candidates cleared nationwide, Uganda’s 2026 elections promise a fiercely contested political showdown.

 Candidates must submit campaign schedules within 10 days, with rallies set to commence post-harmonization on November 4, intensifying Zombo’s role as a key electoral battleground.