Minister Amongi, 27 others sail through unopposed in UPC primaries
The chairperson electoral commission, Mahmoud Kazimbiraine, described the elections as the beginning of reconstructing the party and Uganda.
Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Betty Amongi, eying Lira City has sailed through unopposed for the UPC ticket.
By Patrick Okino
Journalists @New Vision
The Uganda People’s Congress party is conducting primary elections today to pick parliamentary and LC5 flag-bearers for the forthcoming general elections of 2026.
The chairperson electoral commission, Mahmoud Kazimbiraine, described the elections as the beginning of reconstructing the party and Uganda.
He urged the electorate to be calm, be reasonable, foresighted and open-minded while participating in the exercise.
“Choose your very best, and when you choose your very best, do not say we have chosen. Go and follow those people. Push those people and make sure that you get victory wherever you have put a candidate,” he noted during a press briefing at Garden Inn Hotel in Lira City on Friday evening.
Kayimbiraine said that there is huge enthusiasm from the people of Lango about the party polls.
"They are not just participating in the primaries, but they are actually expanding the gospel of UPC," he added.
He said primaries will be held in 25 constituencies and eight districts where there is stiff competition for the flags, according to official data from the party’s electoral commission.
Kazimbiraine and Osinde addressing media at Garden Inn Hotel in Lira City on Friday. (Credit: Patrick Okino)
Meanwhile, 28 aspirants have sailed through unopposed.
They include the Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Betty Amongi, eying Lira City, who is battling to unseat incumbent health minister Dr Jane Aceng Ocero.
Others include Dr Eunice Apio Otuku of Oyam North, Nelson Okello of Maruzi in Apac, Elizabeth Shakira Wacha, for Northern youth member of Parliament, Pauline Agayo for Kalaki, David Livingston Odongo sailed unopposed for Aruu in Pader, Jennifer Apollo for West Budama Central, Barbra Marcy Nyafamba for West Budama, all in Tororo.
Others are Peter Mwesigwa for Jinja North, Kenneth Wabwire for Bukooli South.
In Kampala, Christine Nantege went unchallenged for Kampala woman MP, Patrick Eluju for Soroti East, Joyce Akello for Kaberamido, Gabriel Ewalu Kaberamido county, Calvin Atocon Thomas for Ochero County, Aquinas Ounyo Kapelebyong and Andrew Omiat for Ngariam.
Joy Cinderella Acellam Apili of Nwoya, Mohamed Moses Osuguru of Ngora, Joseph Okellowange Ogweni of Chua West, Roseline Alanyo Olobo of Kitgum district and Jimmy Okello Olenge of Kitgum municipality all sailed through without a challenger.