Ngompek retains Kibanda North parliamentary seat

Kiryandongo: Linos Ngompek of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Kibanda North Constituency, securing a second term in office.

The Electoral Commission on Tuesday conducted fresh elections in Kibanda North after Lumansi Benjamin of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) was omitted from the ballot paper during the general elections held on January 15, 2026.

Ngompek garnered 14,564 votes, defeating seven other contenders. He was followed by Taban Idi Amin (Independent) with 8,444 votes, Lumansi Benjamin (NEED) with 343 votes, Rogers Alinaitwe (NUP) with 257 votes, and Bihemaiso David Bagonza (DP) who polled 85 votes.

Ochan Zechariah (UPC) obtained 84 votes, while Likambo Bahti Taylor (Independent) 58 votes and William Wataka (FDC) came last with 39 votes.

The Kiryandongo District Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Rashid Musinguzi, subsequently declared Ngompek the duly elected Member of Parliament for Kibanda North after obtaining the highest number of votes.

Speaking to UG Reports after his declaration, Ngompek thanked the electorate for entrusting him with their mandate and pledged to address key challenges affecting the constituency. Among the issues highlighted were persistent land conflicts between residents and the Kimeka Forest Reserve.

Ngompek said he would work with government to ensure the land is registered so that residents settled there can attain security of tenure. He also pledged to seek justice for absentee landlords, noting that government should buy the land and legally settle the occupants.

The legislator further pledged to follow up on the elevation and increased funding of Kiryandongo Hospital, noting that the facility serves over 160,000 refugees from South Sudan and Sudan, in addition to passengers travelling along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.

“I will follow up and lobby for the elevation of Kiryandongo Hospital because the facility serves a population of over 160,000 refugees from South Sudan and Sudan, as well as passengers travelling along the Kampala–Gulu Highway,” Ngompek said.

He urged government to elevate the hospital so that it can effectively serve Ugandans who depend on it. Ngompek also called upon the electorate to embrace the President’s wealth creation programmes, including the four-acre model, Parish Development Model (PDM), and Emyooga, urging beneficiaries to use government support responsibly.

Kibanda North registered a low voter turnout across the constituency. According to the Kiryandongo District Returning Officer, the constituency has 106,712 registered voters, but only 24,543 turned up to vote. A total of 23,953 valid votes were cast, alongside 590 invalid votes.

After the declaration, the UPC Chairperson for Kiryandongo District, Ochan Zechariah, congratulated Ngompek but urged him to address the major challenges facing residents, including urban insecurity, poor road infrastructure, fragile health services, and the daily struggles of host and refugee communities.

Ochan told his supporters that although UPC did not win the seat, the dream of a safer, educated, and dignified Kibanda North remains alive.

Meanwhile, Lumansi Benjamin (NEED) said he accepted the election results and called upon voters and leaders across Kiryandongo District to demand better service delivery, noting that the district faces numerous challenges that require urgent solutions.

Residents also voiced their concerns. Nyamusana Veronica, a voter from Nyamutende Village in Kiryandongo Sub-county, appealed to leaders to increase sensitization on land rights.

Kyaligonza Joseph, a voter from Bunyama Village, Kahara Parish in Kyankende Sub-county, asked leaders to address human–wildlife conflict, citing massive destruction of food crops by wildlife from neighbouring protected areas.

Story filed by Innocent Atuganyira and Denis Agaba

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