Thousands cheer as VP Alupo, minister Ogwang bury hatchet

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Thousands of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party supporters cheered on Saturday (November 1) as Vice President Jessica Alupo and State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang hugged as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

This followed their decision to bury the hatchet and end a long-standing feud that had seen them battle for supremacy in Katakwi district.

The reconciliation took place during President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 re-election campaign rally at the district booma grounds in Katakwi town council.

Alupo, who doubles as the Katakwi Woman MP, and Ogwang, the Ngariam County legislator, beamed with delight and flashed a thumbs-up sign as the President and the First Lady, who is also the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, looked on.

Earlier, the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi, told the massive crowd that as the secretariat, they were pleased that the duo had finally reconciled.

“Your Excellency, you will see photographs and review TVs showing unity and a big come together of the Vice President and the minister Peter Ogwang today. I also want to thank the Speaker of Parliament (Anita Among) for anchoring this,” he said.

Odoi then invited the duo to “again come in front and hug each other for the sake of peace in Katakwi.”

When the two figures hugged, where the President, who is also the NRM chairman, could not see them well, Odoi asked the ecstatic Speaker to escort them to move nearer.

When they reached where Museveni could see them clearly, they hugged again as Tanga led the crowd in shouting, “NRM Oyee, Katakwi Oyee.”

“As leaders, we are very happy for the Vice President and Minister Ogwang to show this support and unity. No one should come to divide you again,” Tanga, who represented the party secretary general Richard Todwong, told the duo.

Alupo speaks out

When she was invited to speak, Alupo denied having had any issue with Ogwang.

“Honourable Peter Ogwang is my son. Some people have been saying we have issues; we have no issues with honourable Peter Ogwang,” she said, drawing more cheers.

“All I can say, Your Excellency, is that there is peace and harmony among all the leaders of Katakwi district from the LC1 level up to the district level. So, we thank you for always teaching us to work together,” she told the President.

The Vice President later introduced to the President and the crowd five of her political opponents she has been squaring off with in the NRM and national parliamentary elections over the years.