Alur Kingdom youth director Kumakech eyes Okoro MP Seat

Zombo: Sam Kumakech, the Director for Sports, Youths, and Information in Alur Kingdom, has announced his bid for the Okoro County MP seat in the 2026 general elections.

Kumakech made the announcement on Sunday during a press conference at Daudi Cotts in Paidha Town Council, Zombo District, where he outlined key issues he plans to address if elected.

Kumakech, who has previously contested for the LCIII Chairperson position in Paidha Town Council under the National Resistance Movement (NRM), is once again running under the NRM party.

He is also the Executive Officer of Smart Sam’s Foundation, a local community-based organization (CBO).

During his address, Kumakech highlighted the issue of high unemployment in the region and criticized some district leaders over the alleged widespread sale of government jobs by the District Service Commission.

He called for more job opportunities, pointing out that Zombo District has a high number of qualified youths who are currently idle.

Kumakech pledged to work hard to secure employment for the youth, as well as to champion education, agriculture, and infrastructure development, including the tarmacking of the Nebbi-Paidha-Warr-Vura road.

Kumakech also commended Alur Kingdom, religious leaders, and civil society organizations (CSOs) for their collective efforts in combating gender-based violence (GBV), early child marriages, and teenage pregnancies. He emphasized the importance of working together to address these social challenges.

As he joins the race for the Okoro MP seat, Kumakech faces stiff competition from over ten other candidates, including the incumbent MP Gabriel Okumu, a well-known businessman and politician.

Kumakech holds a Master’s degree in Environment and Natural Resource Management Administration from Chonbuk National University in South Korea and a Bachelor’s degree from Makerere University.

His academic qualifications, along with his extensive experience working with various organizations such as Nebbi Diocese, Alur Kingdom, and the Zombo District Boda Boda Association, have equipped him with the skills needed for effective leadership.

His remarks on the alleged sale of government jobs echo concerns raised earlier by local leaders.

Last year, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni publicly condemned the practice of taking bribes for government jobs and urged citizens to report such acts.

Kumakech’s stance on this issue adds weight to the recent calls by Zombo District Councillors, including Sadiki Onencan, the male district councillor for Paidha Town Council, for a thorough investigation into the district’s recruitment activities.

On December 18, 2024, during a district council meeting, Onencan and other councillors discussed the allegations and recommended community sensitization on the matter.

They called for anyone involved in selling jobs to be reported to the relevant authorities, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Local Council V (LCV), Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), or any district councillor.

Zombo District’s Workers Representative, Nasis Binwengi, also stressed the severity of the allegations and called for investigations to prevent the continuation of the vice.

David Bithum, the district councillor for Abanga Sub-County, echoed the need for swift action to preserve the integrity of the Zombo District Service Commission.

In response to the allegations, District LCV Chairperson James Oruna Oyullu urged the council to base their recommendations on concrete evidence rather than hearsay, acknowledging that the sale of government jobs is a broader national issue.

The Inspectorate of Government (IG), led by Betty Kamya, has investigated numerous complaints regarding the sale of public jobs at the local government level.

Some perpetrators have already been apprehended. Kamya condemned the practice, highlighting its detrimental impact on public service and the potential for poor service delivery and corruption.

Between 2020 and 2022, the IG Directorate of Ombudsman Affairs received over 225 cases related to recruitment irregularities handled by district service commissions nationwide.

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