GULU, Uganda — Opposition political actors in the Acholi sub-region have formed a joint committee aimed at mobilizing votes and boosting their chances in Uganda’s 2026 general elections.
The committee includes representatives from the National Unity Platform (NUP), Democratic Party (DP), Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and several independent candidates.
At an inaugural meeting Dec. 14, former Gulu Municipal Council Mayor and former Member of Parliament Christopher Acire was elected chairperson. Simon Opoka, the UPC candidate for Laroo-Pece Division who recently defected from the Democratic Party, was elected general secretary for strategy and research.
Other members include NUP’s flag bearer for Gulu District chairmanship, Sebastian Ogoni, and independent candidate for the Nwoya District Woman Parliamentary seat, Vicky Laker.
Meanwhile, several political parties were yet to submit their representatives to the committee by early this week, ahead of planned inter-district joint campaigns scheduled to begin on Friday in Gulu City.
The campaign, dubbed “Vote No Bus,” targets constituencies with strong National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidates, including Aruu North, Aruu County, and Laroo–Pece Division—where Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao is contesting against nine challengers—as well as Laroo Division in Gulu City.
Other targeted areas include Kilak South Constituency, where FDC’s Gilbert Olanya is facing Amuru District LCV Chairperson Michael Lakony, who defected from FDC to NRM, and where the incumbent MP, Anthony Akol, also crossed from FDC to NRM.
In Gulu District, Aswa County—previously held by FDC’s Reagan Okumu—fell to NRM in 2021 following his defeat by the incumbent MP, Simon Wokorach Peter.
The Omoro District Woman Parliamentary seat was also taken by NRM’s Catherine Lamwaka after Omoro was carved out of Gulu District.
The committee has additionally begun engaging candidates to build consensus and front single candidates against NRM contenders.
The first engagement took place in Bardege–Layibi Division, involving Democratic Party candidate Lyndro Komakech and other aspirants, intending to rally behind one joint opposition candidate to challenge the incumbent NRM MP, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi.
The committee also resolved to sue the government and the Attorney General over violence that marred NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi’s (Bobi Wine) campaign rally in Gulu City on December 6, 2025. They are demanding compensation for property allegedly looted and justice for the death of a 16-year-old student, Joshua Otim.
The committee called on the Electoral Commission to reschedule the interrupted NUP campaign rally in Gulu City, arguing that the violence—allegedly involving security forces—denied the party its officially allocated campaign time.
Committee Chairperson Christopher Acire urged opposition parties to set aside their differences and unite to reclaim the Acholi Sub-Region from NRM control.
Acire said since NRM took over the region in the 2021 elections, Acholi has lost its voice in national politics, a situation he said is reflected in the under-representation of key regional issues such as high poverty levels, corruption, poor education standards, land grabbing, and the high cost of health care.
“You should unite and tackle the issues this region is battling with. Some are policy issues, some require legislation, but most are livelihood concerns. The people will entrust you with the mandate if you walk with them.”
Acire told opposition leaders. Omoro District Woman Parliamentary candidate Rose Nyapolo of the Democratic Party expressed optimism that joint opposition efforts would help address logistical challenges, noting that many candidates struggle to campaign due to limited resources.
I am not battling candidates in these campaigns. I am battling intimidation and money—now even vote-buying. Let this committee change the narrative so that the region gets its best leaders in these elections,” Nyapolo said.
Democratic Party candidate for Bardege–Layibi Division, Lyndro Komakech, said the post-war recovery of the Acholi Sub-Region and other conflict-affected areas requires Parliament to realign legislation with the needs of the people.
“We have pending legal frameworks that require Parliament to put people first, and we are regrouping to push for these reforms,” Komakech said.
He added that the renewed unity among opposition parties symbolises a shared vision for people-centred representation, which he said weakened after the ruling party swept the region in the 2021 elections.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, recently asked Resident District Commissioners in Acholi to mobilise support for President Yoweri Museveni and NRM candidates, targeting an 80 percent victory in the 2026 elections.
“The war has ended. People are sleeping in their homes and freely accessing their gardens. NRM is not winning this region by mistake but by demonstrating delivery. What remains is to fight corruption,” Kakande said recently in an exclusive interview.
