Seven men eye Apio’s Oyam North seat
Uganda Peoples Congress' Dr Eunice Apio Otuko, the incumbent Member of Parliament of Oyam North (left) takes
oath at Parliament in Kampala on July 20, 2023. PHOTOS/FILE/PATRICK EBONG
What you need to know:
The aspirants pledge to do more than what the incumbent has done since July 2023 when she won in a hotly contested by-election
As the 2026 General Elections are fast approaching, fresh faces and seasoned politicians alike are vying for the Oyam County North parliamentary seat in Oyam District. The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and Opposition political parties are organising their internal elections to present candidates from grassroots to the presidential level. Among these are Mr Daniel Bala, an advocate of transformative leadership, who is preparing for the NRM primaries to represent the Oyam North constituency. He promises to redefine the socio-political and economic narratives of his community. “I’m profoundly moved by the untapped potential and the pressing challenges faced by our people,” says Mr Bala, pledging to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to initiate meaningful reform. He says his major focus is addressing systemic issues such as high school dropout rates, health disparities, and economic stagnation.
Mr Bala says he is also committed to improving education, based on his experience in his current role in the Ministry of Education’s Business Technical Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) department. “Without education, progress remains elusive,” he asserts, emphasising the crucial nature of education in empowering youth and providing them with pathways to successful futures. Another aspirant is Stephen Okello Marioshoni, a politician, educationist and investor who says he is already touching the lives of ordinary people in the constituency and the neighbouring areas. The Oyam Town Council chairperson, who has been in office for only four years, says his achievements are visible. Mr Okello boasts that he has caused transformation in sectors such as road infrastructure, health, education, poverty reduction and spearheaded the war on corruption.
“When I took over the leadership of the town council, everything was in a mess as a result of corruption in the previous administration. Shs1.5 billion, which was given by the government for tarmacking roads in the town council, was embezzled by the previous leaders who claimed the money was spent on tarmacking Obote Avenue,” he says. Mr Wilbert Otala, who is preparing for the NRM primaries, also wants to represent Oyam North constituency. “I am motivated by the desire to enhance the quality of representation for the people of Oyam North, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs addressed effectively,” says Mr Otala. His vision is to improve the education and health care system. Mr Otala explains: “There are concerns about the quality of education and healthcare services, which need improvement to meet the needs of the population. Additionally poor infrastructure, such as roads and communication networks, affects connectivity and access to services.”
He says he will push for policy reforms that prioritise education, healthcare, and infrastructure development to ensure sustainable growth. He also pledges to engage with the community members to understand their needs and involve them in decision-making processes which is crucial in developing effective solutions. “Vocational training is very important. I want to establish vocational training centres to equip youth with skills in areas like agriculture, technology, and entrepreneurship. In addition, I want to introduce scholarship programmes to support disadvantaged students, promoting equal access to education,” Mr Otala says. Mr Willy Omodo Omodo Kagere, the former NRM youth chairperson for northern Uganda, believes he is the right person to lead the Oyam North constituency.
“I am a seasoned politician having served for five years as the National NRM youth chairperson for northern Uganda (2011 – 2015). This is not my first time contesting for Oyam North parliamentary seat. In 2016, I contested against the late MP Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola whom I defeated in the NRM primary elections but he grabbed my votes and my result was never declared,” Mr Omodo Omodo alleges. The Awitong (clan leader) of Pedi Wibye Acel since 2019 says his focus is on addressing issues that contribute to national development. Mr Julius Peter Moto, Uganda’s former High Commissioner to Pretoria, South Africa, is also eyeing the seat. Mr Moto, who is a member of NRM party, believes that with his diplomatic stint, he would use his lobbying power to bring investors to Oyam North. Previously, he was awarded by Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) as the best ambassador for his contributions in lobbying foreign investors and tourism.
“I’m going to link the chain with the chain because I already have my network of development agencies to develop Oyam North, where we still have a poor road network, the highest number of school dropouts and teenage pregnancy,” Mr Moto says. Mr Freddy Newton Okello of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has made a comeback after he contested in the by-election of Oyam North in 2023, but lost to Dr Eunice Apio Otuko of Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC). He says Oyam North currently lacks effective representation because the incumbent Member of Parliament is weak and cannot articulate issues affecting her constituency. Mr Okello says lawmakers are the ex-officio of the district council and they are supposed to attend council meetings, but Dr Apio allegedly does not do so.
“The voice of the people of Oyam is not reaching where it's supposed to be heard (Parliament) because she is lukewarm and cannot speak in Parliament,” says Mr Okello. He pledges to ensure Anyeke Health Centre IV is elevated to a district hospital status and Iceme and Otwal Health Centre IIIs are upgraded to the level of health centre IV so that people can easily access reliable health services. Mr Samuel Engola Junior, the previous NRM flag bearer in the Oyam North by-election, remains a central figure in the political landscape. Though he narrowly lost the previous by-election to UPC’s Dr Apio, Mr Engola Junior says his dedication to his constituents remains unwavering. His campaign focuses on reinforcing community support structures and improving access to essential services.
Dr Apio Otuko, the incumbent MP, however, continues to champion an inclusive policy framework aimed at tackling critical issues such as gender disparity, youth unemployment, and healthcare accessibility. Her grassroots initiatives, such as community health workshops and women's empowerment programmes, have already begun to make tangible impacts within the constituency. Dr Apio says she is committed to equitable opportunities for all demographics and highlights her dedication to bridging societal gaps and fostering an environment of inclusivity and progress. The contest for the coveted seat in Oyam North is not simply a clash of personalities, it is a battleground for ideas that address critical issues affecting the community.
David bala
Born on October 6, 1979, in Pukica Village, Oyam District, Mr Bala holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Cavendish University, Kampala. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Institutional Management and Leadership at Uganda Management Institute.
Julius Peter Moto
Mr Moto, who was born 58 years ago at Acandano Village, Ngai Sub-county in Oyam Distrct, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master in Business Administration.
Samuel Engola junior
He is the son of former Oyam North MP, the late Charles Okello Engola and was the NRM flagbearer in the Oyam North MP by-election held in July 2023.UPC’s Eunice Apio won with 15,718 votes and he followed with 15,176, votes.
Stephen Okello
Mr Stephen Okello, born in 1982 in Iceme Town Council, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
Willy Omodo Omodo
He was born on September 4, 1984 at Abanya A’ Village in Oyam District. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management with a bias in public policy and research.
William Otala
Mr Otala, born on February 17 in Akao-idebe A’ Village, Aungu Parish in Iceme Town Council, holds a Diploma in Administrative Law from Law Development Centre Kampala.
Freddy Okello
FDC’s Okello was born on January 2, 1982 in Alocero Village in Ngai Sub-county. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Cavendish University Kampala.
