Pallisa, Uganda | Former Agule County MP David Ochwa has called for peaceful politics after surviving a brutal attack during the 2026 election campaigns, saying his survival was a testament to God’s grace. Ochwa made the appeal on Saturday during an ecumenical Thanksgiving service at his residence in Dudi Cell, Morukokume Ward, Agule Town Council. The event, attended by more than 6,000 people, was organised by his family to thank God for sparing his life after he was attacked and seriously injured while campaigning in Oboliso Sub-county on January 12, 2026.
The service, led by Fr. Chrysostom Oduc of Chelekura Parish in Tororo Archdiocese and co-officiated by Rev. Canon Charles Firefox Okiror, the Diocesan Secretary of Bukedi Diocese, brought together religious, political, and community leaders who used the occasion to condemn political violence and urge peaceful coexistence ahead of future elections.
Former State Minister for Persons with Disabilities Hellen Asamo urged politicians and their supporters to view election defeat as an opportunity to pursue other ventures rather than the end of life. She encouraged leaders to invest in income-generating activities to reduce the financial and emotional pressures associated with politics.
Asamo also condemned the violence inflicted on Ochwa, describing it as an abomination that had no place in a democratic society. She said political competition should never justify attacks on opponents, noting that leaders and supporters must continue living together after elections. Drawing from her experience in government, she revealed that while serving as minister she spent at least Shs2 million daily responding to both genuine and false requests from constituents, adding that the same amount now sustains her for nearly a month. She also said the emerging Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) represented a political transition that should not be resisted.
In his sermon, Fr. Oduc said he had initially been surprised when Ochwa invited him to preside over a thanksgiving service despite losing the February 2026 parliamentary election. He warned that political violence, once associated mainly with urban centres such as Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono, had spread to rural communities, describing the trend as dangerous and sinful because it fuels killings, revenge, divisions and undermines development.
Rev. Canon Okiror praised Ochwa’s family for organising an interdenominational thanksgiving service, saying the gathering demonstrated unity among Christians regardless of denomination. He noted that the prayers were not only beneficial to Ochwa’s family but also to everyone who attended the event.
Former Kioga North MP James Olobo, who represented PLU Secretary General Fadil Twaha, commended Ochwa’s ability to mobilise the community, saying the huge turnout reflected his continued popularity. He described PLU as a pressure group established to address gaps in service delivery and combat corruption, arguing that a significant share of taxpayers’ money was being lost through graft. Olobo also urged residents to support Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara and announced that PLU would soon roll out grassroots structures across sub-counties.
William Emuron, the Pallisa District Workers’ Councillor and chairperson of the organising committee, thanked residents for attending the thanksgiving in large numbers, saying the overwhelming turnout demonstrated the community’s affection and continued support for Ochwa.
The thanksgiving ended with prayers for peace, reconciliation, and tolerance, with religious leaders urging politicians, supporters, and the wider public to reject violence and embrace dialogue as the country prepares for future electoral contests.