Seven seek to deny Okupa sixth term

The battle for Kasilo County has already started to shape public debate in Serere District as a section of people, who have watched Elijah Okupa's political dominance, state that he may have to find a new political charm if he is to retain the seat that he has occupied since 2001.

His opponents claim the incumbent has outlived his political welcome. They say it is time the people of Kasilo find a new leader to represent them in Parliament. However, Mr Okupa dismisses his opponents claims, saying residents still believe in his ability to serve them. Mr Okupa advises his opponents to instead articulate their intentions before the Kasilo constituents.

Until the last elections, Okupa was a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, but after the party squabbles that pitted top leaders Gen Mugisha Muntu against Dr Kizza Besigye at the time, the Kasilo MP opted to contest as an Independent, having supported Gen Muntu, who lost the party presidency to Mr Patrick Amuriat.

Performance in last election

In the 2021 elections, he managed to poll 6,415 votes, with his closest challenger, Mr James Emaju of FDC, polling 4,572 votes. Mr Moses Edonu of NRM came third with 3,522 votes, George Emmanuel Owanyi (Ind) managed 3,477 votes, Sam Kolou (Ind) polled 470 votes and Sam Enyutu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) garnered 137 votes.

The most notable people who want to wrest the seat from Okupa are Mr Peter Carlos Ebiau (Ind), Mr Peter Emaju, Mr Emmanuel George Owanyi and Moses Edonu (NRM), Mr Edward Eninu and Mr James Emaju (FDC), and Sam Enyutu of NUP.

Mr Ebiau, a Rotarian with PhD in Business Administration and Management from Busitema University, was born in Agule Village, Kasilo County in Serere District. 

He says he brings into the race new ideas that are best suited to address the problems affecting the people of Kasilo at the grassroots.

He reasons that he is in this race to help develop and implement programmes that will enhance entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation among the youth, women and men.

Mr Ebiau says if elected, he will “lobby for projects that support agriculture, tourism, and small-scale industries, which will boost the local Kasilo economy.” 

Mr Ebiau adds that in the areas of education and the road network, there is a lot that needs to be fixed, adding that at the time when the rains intensify and the water levels around Lake Kyoga surge, the people of Kasilo, who are surrounded by the lake, always suffer and they thus need a lasting solution.

He hints that when entrusted to lead the people of Kasilo, youth empowerment skills at the county level should be given the attention they deserve.

In defence of the incumbent, Mr Julius Odeng, the political aide to Mr Okupa, says his boss' legacy in Kasilo and across the Teso sub-region will still give him an edge over the other competitors.

“We are in a democracy where everyone is free to come and contest, we welcome all the people to express their interests but they should come with ideas and not incite politics of violence,” Mr Odeng says.

At the national level, Mr Odeng says Mr Okupa has always been among the top stars in articulation of matters of national importance, while at the constituency level, he has been able to improve accessibility to safe water, and also helped to grade community access roads, achievements that the opponents give credit to the district local government.

“Through his lobbying ability, we now have a ferry and water ambulance that the President will soon be launching to start operations,” Mr Odeng notes, adding that all this has been as a result of his oversight role.

However, Mr Emaju, also seeking to wrest the seat from Mr Okupa using the NRM party ticket, says there is virtually nothing that the incumbent has achieved in the last 25 years.

“If you look closely, you will find little to nothing. My goal is to unite the community so we can rebuild from the ground up,” he says.

EYING THE SEAT

Aspirants so far

The most notable people who want to wrestle the seat from Okupa are Mr Peter Carlos Ebiau (Ind), Mr Peter Emaju, Mr Emmanuel George Owanyi and Moses Edonu (NRM), Mr Edward Eninu and Mr James Emaju (FDC), and Sam Enyutu of NUP.