Gulu — The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has endorsed Simon Opoka, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate, in the Laroo-Pece Division parliamentary race following the withdrawal of its own candidate.
The endorsement comes days after Geoffrey Komakech, the FDC flag bearer, stepped down from the hotly contested race. FDC officials said the decision was aimed at consolidating opposition support and avoiding a split vote that could favour the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Announcing the decision on Friday, Wilson Chagga Oyat, the FDC Secretary General for the Acholi sub-region, said the endorsement was resolved during a meeting of FDC leaders and joint opposition parties held on December 18, 2025.
“On behalf of FDC and the joint opposition political parties in Acholi, we resolved to endorse our brother Simon Opoka as the joint opposition candidate for Laroo-Pece,” Oyat said.
He said 76 party members signed endorsement documents backing Opoka’s candidature and that FDC party structures in the constituency had been handed over to support mobilisation efforts.
Although Komakech is yet to formally notify the Electoral Commission of his withdrawal, his exit makes him the third candidate to drop out of the race after independents Caesar Lubangakene and Edward Odong.
Oyat said the decision to rally behind Opoka was driven by the need to close ranks within the opposition.
“As FDC, we no longer have a candidate in this race, and we cannot leave that vacuum to NRM. We agreed to support a credible and saleable candidate, and we found that in Simon Opoka,” he said.
The FDC official added that a similar arrangement had been reached in the Gulu City mayoral race, where the party is backing independent candidate Marc Anthony Obonyo.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, Opoka welcomed the endorsement, describing it as a shift from political division to unity. He praised FDC’s grassroots structures, saying they bring tested mobilisation capacity to his campaign.
“This is about unity of purpose. The structures that FDC brings are experienced and will strengthen our outreach,” Opoka said.
Opoka said UPC and FDC would formalise their cooperation through a memorandum of understanding. He added that the joint platform would prioritise vulnerable groups, including girls born in captivity and young mothers affected by poverty and early relationships.
A former vice national chairperson of the Democratic Party, Opoka defected to UPC in November, shortly before parliamentary nominations. He accused his former party leadership of sidelining him in favour of party president Norbert Mao.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Komakech were unsuccessful by press time.
Opoka faces stiff competition in the race, including from Norbert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, incumbent legislator Fr Charles Onen, and NRM candidate Tony Kitara.
Other contenders include Samuel George Okello of the Democratic Front (DF) and independent candidates Charles Odokonyero and Wilfred Opobo.
Following the withdrawal of three candidates, the Laroo-Pece parliamentary race has narrowed to seven contenders and is widely viewed as one of the most closely watched contests in the region.
