Nebbi mayor vows to retain seat amidst tough competition
“I see a lot of leadership gaps and things that aren’t happening. I believe I have the experience and vision to address these challenges.”
Nebbi: The incumbent Mayor of Nebbi Municipality, Geoffrey Ngiriker, has urged residents to grant him another five-year mandate, promising to continue steering the municipality toward transformative development and infrastructural progress.
During a recent press briefing at his municipal office, Ngiriker appealed for strong support from his constituents, citing visible achievements from his previous term. These include the near-completion of 2.6 kilometers of tarmac road surfacing and the ongoing construction of Abindu Seed Secondary School, among several other projects.
Ngiriker revealed that under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program, Nebbi Municipality has 20 sub-projects lined up, marking what he described as a major opportunity for growth that demands experienced leadership.
“Give me this five-year term and we will see where Nebbi will be,”
said Ngiriker confidently.
Although Ngiriker narrowly lost to Jackline Opar, the LCIII Chairperson of Thatha Division, in the NRM party primaries, he secured nomination to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections.
Reflecting on the primary polls, he said:
“Yes, there was a small difference between me and the winner. But I was very impressed when the community and voters came to me and said, ‘No, we want you to continue with the projects that are already transforming Nebbi Municipality.’”
Ngiriker emphasized that his administration’s achievements — including road works, the Seed School, and the ongoing USMID projects — motivated his supporters to rally behind him for the 2026 general elections.
Running under the independent symbol of a car, Ngiriker remains optimistic about retaining his seat despite strong opposition from both NRM flag-bearer Jackline Opar and Geoffrey Thorwinyo (Jeff), another independent candidate.
Nebbi Municipality, home to over 40,000 residents, continues to grapple with challenges such as poor waste management and deteriorating road networks, issues Ngiriker attributes to limited funding and bureaucratic delays.
Meanwhile, anticipation remains high among the municipality’s 1,000 vendors, who await the start of a UGX 32 billion market redevelopment project along Nyipir Road, funded by the African Development Bank through the Ministry of Local Government. Site evaluations for the project were conducted in July 2023.
Ngiriker faces stiff competition from Jackline Opar, widely respected for her strong leadership and advocacy. As the only female candidate in the race, Opar is expected to capitalize on the growing influence of women in Ugandan politics and the NRM’s solid base in the municipality.
Also in contention is Geoffrey Thorwinyo, popularly known as Jeff, a media professional who has worked with Rainbow Radio Nebbi since 2012. His political journey began in 2016, when he was elected as a District Councilor for Nebbi Town Council on an independent ticket.
In an earlier interview, Jeff said: “I see a lot of leadership gaps and things that aren’t happening. I believe I have the experience and vision to address these challenges.”
Despite mounting criticism over his previous term, Ngiriker still enjoys support from sections of the electorate who credit him with tangible progress. Observers note that if he effectively communicates his past achievements and future vision, he could remain a strong contender in Nebbi, the second municipality in the West Nile region after Koboko.
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