Alebtong, Uganda – In a significant development ahead of the 2026 Parliamentary Elections, NRM Party leaders from Akura Subcounty, Alebtong District, have endorsed Sam Ogwal, Secretary for Finance to the National Youth Council of Uganda and IGAD Special Envoy on Youth, as the NRM flagbearer for Moroto County MP.
This decision, made at a meeting held in Adoma Village, Anyaa Parish, reflects the growing discontent with the incumbent MP Samuel Okwir Odwe’s performance and the urgent desire for new leadership in the area.
Thomas Oree, Chairman of NRM Party for Akura Subcounty, expressed the frustrations of party members who had supported Odwe in the 2021 elections, but have seen little in the way of development.
“We trusted him with our votes, but up to now, he hasn’t brought any development to the party. The NRM Party is crippled in Moroto County,” Oree said.
He highlighted the division caused by the MP’s detachment from the party, leaving the leadership in disarray.
Recognizing Ogwal’s potential, Oree emphasized that the decision to back him was a strategic one. “Sam Ogwal is brilliant, energetic, and capable of bringing together party members. We believe he will unite the party and help restore it to its rightful place,” Oree added.
Ogwal now faces a tough contest for the Moroto County MP seat, where he will go head-to-head with the incumbent Samuel Okwir Odwe (NRM), who has been criticized for his lack of progress in the constituency.
He will also contend with Ojede Zigla (NRM), Denis Opio Elia (UPC), among others, as they all aim for the seat in the 2026 general elections.
Joe Otiti, a former contestant for Akura Subcounty, shared similar sentiments, calling the party “weak and dead” under the current leadership.
“I have hope that Sam Ogwal will revive the party in Akura Subcounty,” Otiti remarked.
He lamented that elected leaders have been more focused on personal gain than the welfare of the people.
Alice Aryam, a former contestant for Women’s Council in Akura Subcounty, urged NRM Party members to rally behind Ogwal.
“Sam Ogwal has the energy and capacity to win the elections in 2026. Telling the truth now is far better than regretting later,” Aryam stated.
Albino Ocen, Advisor to NRM leaders in Akura Subcounty, also voiced his strong support for Ogwal.
“I have already blessed him. He is the right person for the job,” Ocen said.
He also took the opportunity to urge Ogwal to address issues at Akura Seed Secondary School, where construction problems have persisted, indicating his proactive approach even before securing office.
Pastor Bosco Onyang, a party member from Yaweh Pentecostal Mission, echoed the sentiments of many others.
“Marketing Ogwal and his manifesto will be easy because his work in Moroto County speaks for itself. People are happy with what he’s doing,” Onyang remarked.
In his address, Ogwal expressed gratitude for the support and reaffirmed his commitment to unity within the party.
“The NRM Party leaders should not allow anyone to divide us. We must select wisely, and once we do, the divisions will end,” Ogwal stated.
He also made it clear that he is ready to work with anyone chosen under the NRM banner.
“It is the voters who will decide who their leader is, and I am ready to greet and hug anyone who will pass under the NRM Party,” he added.
With the backing of key NRM leaders and a growing sense of optimism, Sam Ogwal’s candidacy is quickly gaining momentum as Moroto County looks towards the 2026 elections.
His leadership promises a new chapter for the NRM Party in the region, one that prioritizes unity, development, and true representation for the people of Moroto County.
