Over 10 eye Zombo Woman MP seat in 2026

Zombo: Apparently, political atmosphere has  boiled up to the core, in the lead up to 2026 polls, with incumbents galvanizing for support, as  the incoming aspirants are sourcing for support and establishing their firm grassroot structures to deliver them to the promise land.

The most highly contested race is for the Woman MP seat, currently under the superintendence of Esther Afoyochan, the Parliamentary commissioner.

Understandably, over 10 youthful ambitious driven women, have poured to clinch the seat, that incumbent Afoyochan ascended on  upon unseating the then incumbent  Grace freedom Kwiocwiny, in the hotly contested 2021 National Resistance Movement Primary elections.

In an unprecedented move all the about 13 female aspirants, are seeking their way through the ruling NRM Party.

Ever since its inception in 2011, Zombo has never witnessed a snaking queue of women seeking for political positions like now.

This has stirred questions among locals and some opinion leaders in the area, most of whom are wondering why now?

We understands that few women are contemplating contesting on either independent tickets or the opposition political party tickets. This is premised on the argument that Zombo, a district with the population of 312, 188 people,  is where the NRM establishment has a stronger footing and boasts  of  maximum and rooted  support.

Some of the aspirants who talked to this Publication on anonymous condition, are concerned over too much influence of religious leaders in the politics of Zombo. “I fear the same thing that happened in 2021 is going to happen this time again, where religious leaders openly campaigned for some candidates, swaying away voters from making independent decisions,” one of the aspirants stressed.

Another aspirant said “some religious leaders instead of embracing all of us are just segregating based on religious affiliations, how do we develop with this kind of segregation”

The Electoral Commission  in January commenced the General Update Exercise of the National Voters  Register in compliance with Article 61 (1)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, and Section 20 of the Electoral Commission Act (Cap 176).

Brief about some aspirants

Information obtained by this publication indicates that not all these candidates are the favourites but there are some aspirants that have made inroads in the community and are the household names than their colleagues.

Esther Afoyocan

Afoyocan who shot her way through to parliament in 2021, notwithstanding the baying queue of aspirants seeking to unseat her, still enjoys support of the ruling Nrm Party. This publication understands that she is also the blue-eye girl for speaker Anita Anet Among, the few amongst the  most powerful persons  in the country.

Since clinching the Zombo woman MP seat in 2021, Afoyocan severally said she  has been involved in body of activities like sourcing for job opportunities for  some home grown unemployed educated youths, donating basins and mama kits for women in health facilities amongst others.

The most memorable moment was supporting the best performing girls in Zombo with scholastic materials, donating relief items to hundreds of Labora victims, in Otheko Parish, Paidha Sub County, after their over 70 huts were torched following the killings of two people in May,  2023.

Recently, she noted of supporting teacher’s  SAACO in Zombo with shillings 10 million and also supporting Christians who last year travelled  in droves to attend the yearly Martyr’s day celebration in Namugongo, Kampala.

About legislation, her supporters still hold her in their memories after she together with Ora County MP Songa Biyika Lawrence , early last year  , delivered on the floor of parliament,  a remarkable performance whilst pushing for the ever precarious state of the  119 km of Nebbi-Goli-Paidha- Warr-Vura Road, that its debate has been raging for decades without any tangible response.

Notwithstanding the raft of contributions Afoyocan made in her last four years in office, Majority  of her opponents are tearing through her leadership,  saying “Zombo deserves better”.

Afoyocan together with other three commissioners constantly made headlines for the better part of 2024, after they were accused of sharing amongst themselves a whooping 1.7 billion shillings as service award.

However, Afoyocan and her  accused colleagues were later vindicated by the court, making her to have for once a breath of fresh air.

Speaking during the burial of Kebu Rigangi  King in Alangi Sub County last year, following the court ruling on the service award saga, Afoyocan amidst applause from members of the public said, “now that the court has set us free, I don’t know how my opponents will campaign because I know they have been basing on that rumor all the time”.

She added “I know my electorates, you’re the very people who voted me,  and you will be the very people to vote me again”

Apparently,  given her  placement and  strong financial muscle, local political analysts say  she can still upturn  the table at the right time despite her opponent’s presence across the district.

Topista Acamfua

She is a social worker who has had remarkable contribution over the years,  whilst working with DAR, a non-governmental organization. She headed different infrastructure projects , water extension services amongst others.

This has made Acamfua  to familiarize herself with mostly the rural community,  that always  call her by name. Sources say she is currently another notable thorn in the flesh of the incumbent Esther Afoyocan.

Her social attributes  amongst the locals, has earned her a title “the welfare officer”, this publication understands.

In 2023, Acamfua boldly pasted her name across the hearts of Paidha and Nyapea Community, upon constantly providing financial support to aid construction of Nyagak footbridge, that connects Nyapea and Paidha town council.This after community locally mobilized resources to fix the then broken and deplorable footbridge that is a just a touching distance from Nyagak I Power house.

Grace Thorach

She is a seasoned politician  who has tested the bitter water of politics upon  failing several times to make it to parliament.

She in previous elections lost to Akumu Catherine Mavenjina, Grace Freedom Kiwiocwiny, and Esther Afoyocan. This hasn’t dented her resolve in pushing for the position once again this time around.

Thorach  is currently a member of Zombo district service Commission, an entity that of late has been facing scathing criticisms from Zombo district councilors under social services committee, over allegations of “paying bribes for Jobs”.

Gloria Oroma

She is another force to reckon with this publication understands, basing on her strategic communication skills, eloquence, formation of robust grass root structures amongst others.

She worked at the office of Edith  Nakalema, the head of state house investors protection unit. Apparently, she has a well established grassroot structure, ready to steady her ship full speed ahead in the forthcoming NRM party Primary elections.

Whilst for a recent policy brief launch for Ndrukpa Kingdom at Zombo district headquarters, Oroma called upon “cultural and religious leaders to be neutral” as political contestations gather momentum in the area.

Oroma is a daughter to Jesse Okweda, a Paidha  reknown businessman whose name can’t be ruled out  anyhow when discussing Zombo politics. Many people in Zombo call him a ” senior political strategist”

Sources say  Jesse Okweda, is currently a key brainchild behind her daughter’s political journey. On several occasions, he has been seen moving inch by inch with the daughter at Public functions.

Giramia Peace Tasha Jarar

She is a media personality who has been plying her trade at Paidha FM for nearly ten years now. She is also working as a spokeswoman for Paidha Black Angels FC and an event Master of the ceremony.

Apparently, she is contemplating launching her political move formally, though she has been frequenting places of public gatherings like Churches, burials, mosques amongst others to show her face to her target electorates.

Many say her move shouldn’t be ruled out. This is because record has it that a number of media personalities in the area, have capitalized on their stardom, to clinch parliamentary seats in the past years.

For instance, former Paidha FM presenter Joshua Anywarach, Former Radio Pacis presenter Jackline Aol.

Tasha as many call her,  easily command the crowd upon introducing herself every where her leg touches. But it will be tested in the highly anticipated NRM Primaries if the verbal support can whirl into real votes.

Fiona Giramia

She is a radio presenter at Arua city based Acess FM. Nothing much is known about her, but she is a daughter to Emilio Owonda, a renkowned NRM party mobilizer in Paidha town council and Zombo district at large.

Her physical presence is not highly felt on the ground this Publication understands, though she has been sending her agents to public place of gatherings for introduction.

Jane Othora

Othora  is the female district councillor for Zeu Sub County and also the chairperson Production committee for Zombo district.

Adong Sarah

She formerly worked at Paidha Fm before jumping the ship to head communication department at SC Villa in Kampala.

Apparently, the Democratic Party stalwart is said to be gearing up to start from where she stopped in 2021, where she was floored by Afoyocan in the Zombo Woman MP seat contestation.

Adong is currently working at Wan Luo Televsion under the Vision Group Publication in Kampala.

In a brief conversation with this ugreports.co.ug recently, Adong said she hasn’t caved in her resolve, adding that ” I struggled to Garner over 15, 000 votes in Zombo in 2021, meaning I still has my support here”

Other contestants are ; Nega Elizabeth, Jackline Alanyu , Maria Gorreti,  amongst others.

The NRM Party in Zombo has been lately embroiled in leadership crisis, imminent in their open spat during the belated 39th NRM day celebration for the district, at Warr town council.

Relatedly, in 2023, the NRM Party chairperson Tom Joram, threw a  barb at  leglislators from  Zombo, for failing to support the party.

But some NRM staunch supporters say their leaders should play “neutral role” in filling the gapping difference between the party members.

What other people are saying

Alex Pithua, the Executive Director of Zombo Press Association, noted that the election is going to be the most competitive one in the history of the district, given the evident number of aspirants.

“This has never happened in the history of this district, the aspirant’s  numerical strength shows that the women of Zombo have been woken up and in some years to come for instance in 2031, it will be more tense than what we are seeing now ” Pithua told this publication in an exclusive interview.

He added “the level of civic education is high given the intensified sensitization on electoral laws by the media,  more especially the Journalists”

Francis Bolingo, the leader of Opposition in Zombo district and also the district councilor of Athuma Sub County, noted that the long lists of these female  aspirants mostly on NRM party ticket, is going to give the incumbent Afoyocan an upper hand since she has her own people who voted for her in 2021.

The NRM party chairperson for Zombo district Mr Tom Joram, said the party office is opened to everyone, adding that the increasing number of aspirants clearly indicates the love people have for the NRM party.

In 2022, the state minister of privatization Evalyne Anite, awarded Zombo district with a trophy for their 100 % support to the NRM Party in the 2021 polls. Many electorates later poured scorn on the award, noting that Zombo district should be awarded with life-saving service delivery like roads, district hospitals amongst others.

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