By Anzoo Evaline and Bazio Doreen.

25% of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students in West Nile have experienced sexual violence according to a 2025 baseline survey report for the safety and protection of children.

The perpetrators are said to be fellow students, teachers and community members while the main places where violence occurs were cited as: classrooms, school compounds, dormitories/hostels, bushy areas near schools and on outings/tours.

The main drivers of violence against children in schools identified are: economic hardships, parenting gaps, peer pressure, harmful cultural practices as well as drug and alcohol abuse.

The findings also show that: 24.5% and 25.5% of secondary school students had experienced physical and economic violence respectively; only 74.5% schools included child protection in their school development plans; and 25.5% teachers lacked skills on child protection.

While presenting the survey’s findings to key stakeholders from Ma’di Sub Region at the Adjumani District Council Hall on 6^th November 2025, Obong Peter (PhD), the lead researcher said that the aim of the survey was to generate evidence to strengthen child protection in secondary schools and institutions of learning in line with the National Strategic Plan (NSP VACiS 2015–2020).

The survey covered 51 schools, and 1,003 (505 male, 498 female) students across nine West Nile districts of Adjumani, Moyo, Terego, Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha, Madi-Okollo, Obongi, and Arua. Other key informants were Police Officers, District Education Office staff, Teenage mothers, Community Development Officers, and NGOs.

The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and Windle International under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP).  

On his part, Dima Robert, the Adjumani District Education Officer, confirmed poor parenting as contributor of violence against school going children urging stakeholders to scale up sensitization and awareness creation.

“Poor parenting is one of the causes of violence among students. Some community activities expose learners to bad peer groups. We need regular parents’ meetings to create awareness on better parenting methods,” Dima stated.

Similarly, Jomaring Japheth Joel, the Head Teacher Idiwa Secondary School in Palorinya Refugee Settlement Obongi district, observed a knowledge gap within both students, and their parents.

 “Financial challenges, early and forced marriages, and girls’ lack of sexual and reproductive health information are contributing factors,” Jomaring said.

Samuel Mpibaza Hashaka, the Resident District Commissioner Obongi is now calling for a joint and concerted effort by all duty bearers and key stakeholders to join the fight against violence that targets school going children.

“We are doing worse than Karamoja and as far as children are concerned, especially those at school and those who are supposed to be at school. And I want to say we are at crisis level early marriages, teenage pregnancies, defilement are the order of the day. So, we have to put our efforts together to make sure we stop this violation of the children’s rights because we, the stakeholders, and the parents are not doing enough,” said Hashaka.

Fortunately, Obong in his report also stressed that protection measures have been put in place to prevent the vice in schools.

“74.5% of schools have integrated child protection in their School Development Plans, Guidance & Counselling stands at (21.7%), VAC sensitization (17.8%) Menstrual Hygiene Management (17.1%), 80% of teachers accessed training in 2024,” Obong stated.

Ocen Julius, the Program Manager, Windle International, also recommended that more capacity building trainings need to be conducted.

  “We need to strengthen capacity building, increase resource allocation to boost funding to support child protection activities and infrastructure, improve reporting and referral systems, support vulnerable learners to introduce counselling, ensure childcare support for teenage mothers, and enhance community and parental engagement to reduce stigma,” Ocen recommended.

Meanwhile, district leaders in the Madi Sub-region praised the Ministry for spearheading the assessment and committed to using the findings to improve the safety and wellbeing of learners. They also pledged to collaborate with MoES, NGOs, and school administrations to close the identified gaps and ensure safe, inclusive, and protective learning environments in all schools.

The dissemination meeting brought together district leaders from Adjumani, Obongi, and Moyo, head teachers, District Education Officers (DEOs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), and education stakeholders. `

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Forum For Democratic Change (FDC)‘s Presidential flag bearer for the 2026 general elections, Hon. Nandala Mafabi, has vowed to prioritize economic empowerment by giving 100 million shillings to each village once elected into office.

Mafabi described this initiative as a direct way of putting money into the people’s pockets and improving the living standards of ordinary Ugandans.

While addressing supporters in Adjumani Town on 7^th November 2025, Nandala Mafabi, criticized existing government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, UWEP, and Grow, saying they have only worked to keep Ugandans in poverty.

“My brothers and sisters we have a manifesto, of how to fight these people who are making us poorer so that we have money in our pocket and to improve our education system so that we have educated citizens,” Mafabi said.

Mafabi also noted that many beneficiaries for similar projects like the Parish development Model (PDM) only receive a percentage of the promised shs 1 million because of corruption and bribery.

“I heard some of you got 600,000/= out of the 1 million because of corruption. Programs like Emyooga, PDM, UWEP, GROW make you remain poor because you are suppose to pay back this money as loan. But in my regime, you will not pay back the money,” Mafabi said.

Mafabi’s remarks drew loud applause from residents who said the current government programs have not significantly improved their welfare.

He emphasized that his leadership would prioritize fair distribution of national resources and ensure that citizens directly benefit from the taxes they contribute.

Mafabi also added that “Our mothers and fathers are doing small businesses but they can’t save because they are supposed to pay loans which they have borrowed from groups, even to the money lenders they have sent here intentional, the ones taking your ID as collateral security”.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Human Rights our Concerns, through the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Human Rights program, has held a one-day engagement with leaders of Adjumani District focusing on the perspective of human rights as a development concern.

Okurut Emmanuel Samson, the Program Manager for Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Human Right our Concerns, said the engagement brought together a cross section of leaders and ordinary community members to share conversations surrounding human rights and service delivery.

“So today we have held a one-day engagement with a cross section of leaders in Adjumani District on the perspective of human rights as a development concern. The purpose of the meeting was to bring leaders together to meet with ordinary people and then they share conversation surrounding areas of human rights and service delivery,” Samson said.

He added that the meeting was to foster a renewed action using their different spaces in advancing and promoting human rights at the community level.

Speaking on the national situation, Samson noted that the state of human rights in the country is “sweet sour.”

He added that the meeting was to foster a renewed action using their different spaces in advancing and promoting human rights at the community level.

Samson highlighted challenges such as poor prison conditions, detention facilities being in a sovereign state, and members of the opposition being curtailed from participating in politics, leadership, and decision making.

He then rallied the key stakeholders present to address some of those barriers and take real action to advance and promote Human Rights.

During the engagement, Ecima Paskal, the District Committee member of Human Rights, also raised key concerns about widespread gaps in awareness of human rights among community members.

“There are a lot of challenges we are facing. You know this issue of human rights just come up. Majority of people are not aware of their rights. Under human rights there is a right to own property,” he said.

Paskal added that wrongful detention remains a concern, especially when injured persons are taken to police instead of receiving immediate medical care.

“There are also these issues where people are detained in the police. In that people are incarcerated. Ideally, under human right, if you are injured, you are not supposed to be taken to police. The first thing you must be taken to the health centre or hospital for treatment,” he noted.

He expressed satisfaction that police were represented in the meeting, saying, “Today, I’m very happy because the police have been represented.”

The engagement ended with a collective commitment from leaders and stakeholders to strengthen awareness, address barriers, and enhance the promotion of human rights across Adjumani District.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Adjumani District has joined the rest of the country in the nationwide exercise to recruit Special Polling Constables who will be trained and deployed to support election security during the 2026 general elections. The screening was done on 6^th November 2025 at Paridi Stadium.

According to SP Masembe Herbert, the District Police Commander Adjumani, who is overseeing the recruitment exercise, the district has been allocated 472 slots, open to both men and women, and strictly awarded on merit. However, the turnout so far exceeded expectations, with 1,486 applicants reporting for screening.

“We commenced the exercise of recruiting special polling constables as guided by the Inspector General of Police, the Director, and the RPC. Adjumani was given a quota of 472 participants including both men and women and the qualifications are strictly Primary Seven and above, targeting those aged 25 to 35 years,” SP Masembe said.

The DPC also explained that despite the clear communication of requirements, many people misunderstood the advert, leading to the disqualification of several applicants.

“Some people above 40 years turned up, and they were automatically disqualified because they did not meet the age bracket. Others failed on medical grounds because they could not manage the basic physical exercise we gave them during the interview,” he noted.

Applicants were also required to present a P7 result slip and a recommendation letter from their Local Council, confirming their credibility and suitability for training.

SP Masembe emphasized that the ability to communicate in English was essential since polling constables interact with the public and handle election-related procedures that demand Basic English proficiency.

Although the training for the special polling constables was initially scheduled to begin on 1st November and end on 31st November, police authorities have issued new guidance and the updated training dates will be communicated later.

Despite the high number of applicants, the recruitment team is ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process. SP Masembe highlighted that priority is being given to women, who turned up in impressive numbers and met the standards set by the police leadership.

“We are carefully selecting those to train, based on merit. Women have come in big numbers, and we want to give them priority as part of strengthening inclusivity in the force,” he said.

The recruitment of special polling constables is part of the national preparation strategy to ensure peaceful, orderly, and well-managed elections in 2026. Adjumani’s successful handling of the large turnout demonstrates the district’s commitment to supporting a credible electoral process.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Adjumani Town Council has held its annual budget conference on 5th November 2025, during which leaders approved the Revenue and Expenditure Budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027, signaling a renewed commitment to improving service delivery and strengthening local revenue management.

The budget discussion, attended by council members, technical officers, and representatives from various community sectors, Implementing Partners, highlighted both the achievements and gaps experienced in the previous financial year. According to figures presented during the conference, the council projected total revenue of Shs. 1,532,987,887, comprising: Local Revenue of Shs. 1,017,530,083 (66.4%); Government Grants of Shs. 514,987,804 (33.6%) and other revenues of Shs. 1,532,987,887 (100%)

On the expenditure side, the council approved a total of Shs. 50,885,933 for key operations, reflecting strategic allocation towards departments that directly influence town management and community welfare.

The major areas of focus for key priorities for FY 2026/2027 aim at enhancing efficiency, improving office functionality, and boosting revenue collection.

Eriku Patrick Keleture, the acting Town Clerk, emphasized that the upcoming financial year will focus heavily on strengthening local revenue systems, ensuring compliance among businesses, and improving the working environment for staff.

The procurement of a new motorcycle and repair of existing ones was particularly highlighted as a strategic investment to improve fieldwork efficiency, enabling revenue officers to reach more areas within the council for mobilization and sensitization.

“The proposed budget uh for next financial year is 1,017,530,083. That stands at 66.4%. And we have some government grants and on the revenue sources, there are very many such as local hotel tax, local service tax, we have the gate collection fee from the markets, the taxi parks, Leisure Park, Market lock ups, property Tax and many more”, said the Town Clerk.

Dipio Santa, an Accounts Assistant attached to Adjumani Town council highlighted the achievements and the challenges of the town council during revenue mobilization.

“The key achievements in finance department includes the following: prepared and submitted final accounts to the office of auditor general, the taxpayers register and assessments are ongoing. The Local revenue for last financial year was collected despite other challenges about 65% was collected. We procured two laptop computers and one colored printer,” Santa said.

She noted that “Despite our collection for last financial year, we have other challenges as finance department which includes the following insufficiency funds for completion of council plan activities, outstanding lock up rent, which is one of our sources of revenue, staffing gap, lack of transport for revenue mobilization as said by my supervisor”.

She added “We have mobile hawkers; they are threat to our traders. Net turnover of business closer is also increasing. The introduction of new method of collecting revenue using in integrated revenue administrative system that is the IRAS. By the government is still a challenge to our taxpayers, especially bank charges. Like when you generate payment reference number to a trader and you tell the person to go and pay, the bank charge itself is on the trader, not on the council’s money”.

Santa therefore recommendations for “Vigorous revenue mobilization Enforcement of all tax defaulters we recommend for recruitment of the remaining account staff, enforcement of district security committee, directives on mobile hawkers and coding in Adjumani district,”.

Leaders also underscored the importance of continued community engagement, noting that effective revenue generation depends on citizen cooperation and understanding of council programs.

Hon. Mangapi Lawrence, the Town Mayor, applauded the team for the collaborative spirit shown during the budgeting process. He noted that while revenue collections have been steadily improving, the new financial year will demand even more innovation to ensure sustainability and timely execution of projects.

“Mind is to appreciate all of you for sacrificing your time which you’re supposed to use to do something to help family but you decided to spend it with us which I can’t take it for granted because clearly shows team work,” said Mangapi.

He further assured residents that the approved budget reflects the town council’s commitment to transparency and prioritizing expenditures that directly benefit the community.

“Today’s activity is a clear reflection of the council’s committee, meaning that we have been working and we shall continue to work,” he stressed.

With the FY 2026/2027 budget now approved, Adjumani Town Council is set for another year of targeted development interventions aimed at enhancing urban management and improving the quality of life for residents under the theme “Full monetization of Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture, industrialization, expanding and broadening services, digital transformation and market access.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

Aspiring candidates for both the Parliamentary and District Chairperson seats in Adjumani have appealed to the District Returning Officer (RO) and the District Security Committee to ensure transparency, fairness, and equal treatment of all contestants during the upcoming 2026 general election campaign rallies scheduled to start on 10th Nov. 2025 during the harmonization of the campaign roadmap.

The appeal was made during a consultative meeting held on Monday 27^th October 2025 convened by the Adjumani District Returning Officer to harmonize the campaign roadmap at Lavic Resort Hotel, where candidates, electoral officials, and security representatives gathered to discuss the coordination of campaign activities ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Several aspirants expressed concern over past experiences in which some candidates were allegedly favored with more convenient campaign schedules and security deployment, creating tension among contenders and their supporters. They emphasized that this time, all candidates should be given equal access to venues, security escorts, and campaign dates to promote a peaceful and credible electoral process.

Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, Hon. Tandrupasi Patrick called for transparency and fairness in the entire electoral process.

 “You talk of being non-partisan, let this communication be true and should be exercised. Because in most cases, we realize in the field when we are now campaigning, most of the candidates on opposition side will be treated not equally. We have a lot of examples. And here you talk of not campaigning in the institutions, you have left out prisons. There are people who will be barred out actually out to go and campaign that side and there are people who will be accepted to go and campaign in the prisons. Let it be equal to everybody”, Tandrupasi said.

Hon. Kaijuka Arthur Richard, who represented Hon. Anyama Ben, who is contesting on the independent ticket for the District Chairperson seat, also urged the security team, particularly the police, to treat every candidate equally regardless of their political party.

“You might have known from history what Adjumani is when it comes to election. They labelled it to be a hotspot. And it’s being hotspot is normally created by the players. One of the players is your office RO, for which we want to say first of all, thank you for calling this meeting meaning that you are now trying to arrange what is supposed to be done transparently. But let it be so. Thank God that the person who came to represent the DPC is here and the DISO. Incidentally, the DISO is not there and the DPC is not there”, Hon. Kaijuka narrated.

He added that “Madam R.O. and the members here, in some years back, the same DISO who is right now here was used to rig election. And he’s here. We lost human beings, candidates. Houses were burned. And it was because of election malpractices. We pray. You play your role. Each and every person here plays his or her role. Because we don’t want to lose lives. In elections all animals are equal and we must guide. You talked of yourself OC station. You talked by yourself. Let us do what we are saying”.

Hon. Draga Gasper, one of the candidates for the Adjumani West Constituency Member of Parliament seat, appealed to the security team and electoral officials to remain neutral and professional throughout the campaign period.

“Many people talked have about Adjumani being a hot spot. There is a say that history normally repeat itself. But it can at times be dodged. The security people talked very well. I believe they will really go by that. Indeed, this is a hot spot. There has been a lot of allegations. Some of us never contested during primary election. But we have been hearing what has been going on the radio and I’m requesting you, the stakeholders, to manage this election very perfectly. So that we can end up with a united Adjumani than dividing us”, Draga said.

In response, the District Returning Officer, Akao Eunice Christine, assured the candidates that her office would not support or Favor any candidate regardless of their political affiliation.

“When you look at the last general elections, there were coded forms. They came from the field and when you put the information into the system, it would either accept or reject. So, I believe the same method will be used during the last general election is going to be the same. But also, we have an opportunity at every polling station. The declaration forms are left at every polling station. Every aspiring candidate is allowed to have two agents at a polling station”, said Akao.

Odong Raymond, the Officer in Charge of Adjumani Central Police Station who represented the DPC, also pledged full cooperation, promising fairness for all candidates during their campaign rallies and urging them to follow the established procedures.

 “You talk of mistreatment of opposition by security forces. Ideally, I don’t think whether you are mistreated or not. I think this is the 30^th general elections I’m policing since I joined police. I pray for the best that everyone should be treated equally. And for you to be treated equally also, you also must listen to the guidelines”, Odong said.

The meeting concluded with an agreement that the harmonized campaign roadmap for each candidate would be shared publicly once finalized, marking a significant step toward a peaceful and orderly election season in Adjumani District.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

A delegation of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) partners and associates led by the Danish Ambassador have extended the Women Uganda 2025+ campaign to Adjumani.

The extension was incorporated into a high-level field monitoring visit to the Strengthening Adolescents and Youth (SAY) Project that took place on Friday 24^th October 2025.

The Women Uganda 2025+ campaign is a collaboration launched by female Heads of Missions from Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, UN Women, and UNFPA. The campaign aims to transform policy and practice through the active involvement of progressive men acting as male change makers.

The joint monitoring visit demonstrated a unified commitment to the Women Uganda 2025+ campaign by emphasizing the crucial role of male engagement in advancing gender equality and addressing issues such as teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence (GBV).

The high level delegation included: Her Excellency Signe Winding Albjerg – the Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda; Ms. Kristine Blokhus – the UNFPA Country Representative; the Royal Danish Embassy’s Male Change Maker, Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo – academic, acclaimed cartoonist, and Human Rights Activist, as well as the UNFPA Male Champion, Don Zan Muwanguzi, a Mental Health Activist and Founder of Awesome Mind Speaks.

During his opening remark, the District Chairman, Hon. Anyama Ben, appreciated the government of Denmark for always having Uganda at heart more so Adjumani district and also applauded the Ambassador for always loving Adjumani in particular.

He further urged the donors to continue supporting the district in different ways since its one the biggest refugees hosting district with nineteen settlements of about over 230,600 refugees.

“I want thank the government of Denmark for loving Uganda, and especially the Ambassador H.E. Singe for always coming in person when there’s activity taking place in Adjumani and also my sister Kristine for UNFPA. The Danish Embassy has helped us the people of Adjumani a lot especially during this period where UNHCR is withdrawing its support for the refugees and we all know that these people don’t have land for cultivating since the land given for them is very small so thank you very much Ambassador”, said Anyama.

While highlighting the success of the SAY project in the different sectors in the district, the Principal Chief Administrative Officer of Adjumani District, Mr. Edema Richard, said, “In the area of sexual reproductive health rights that is affecting adolescent, youth, and women. And therefore, we are trying to push this together for both the host community and the refugee population. But the fact is, we want to thank the people of Denmark for contributing their own taxpayer’s money to address the challenge facing at Adjumani District Local Government”.

“And particularly, the population for both the host and the refugees and targeting women, youth, adolescent in areas of addressing challenges like teenage pregnancy which is high in Adjumani district. High level of GBV in Adjumani district local government. So, we are trying to address this together to make sure that we reduce this”, Edema added.

He added that “underway project or program we have tried to address these challenges during the time of the entry of the refugee population in 2013 up to 2024. We use that resources appropriately. We tried our level best to reduce some of these cases, but allow me put it here. We still have high level of teenage pregnancies. We have high level of GBV cases still existing. And therefore, we are here to make sure that we use these resources under the say program to address some of these challenges still remaining through the youth clubs, through the school clubs, health clubs to make sure that we address some of these challenges facing us”.

H.E. Ambassador Albjerg highlighted the Royal Danish Embassy’s commitment through its partnership with Dr. Spire Ssentongo, who will use his expertise to create positive messages promoting gender equality, focusing on women in leadership, teenage pregnancy, and women’s rights.

“We do work with a lot of partners, but whatever we do, we need the commitment of the local government and the communities in which we work. Otherwise, all the efforts will be in vain. And I’m always happy to come to Adjumani to experience the very strong commitment from the Adjumani district local government at all levels to this course.  And I also can never come to Adjumani without commending the local government and the communities for being very generous and hosting of refugees”, Amb. Albjerg said.

“We know that you have close to more than 230,637 refugees more than the host communities here. And that is in no way something that can be taken for granted that you continue to host the refugees in such a generous a respectful manner. We know that you are under immense pressure at the moment, financially and with increasing inflows”, she added.

On the campaign, H.E. Singe further stressed that “We are here as part of a campaign. We call it Women Uganda 2025+. You may wonder what that means. But it is an attempt to put an emphasis on the rights and opportunities of women in Uganda, but to try to do it from a slightly different angle. We realized that we were mainly talking to women, and were almost creating a situation where women became the enemies of men.  Young women became the enemies of young men in terms of power struggle and attention. And we don’t see that is a very productive way of going forward,”

Meanwhile, the SAY Programme plays a vital role in increasing access to and utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) services for young people aged 10–24, including those in refugee settlements and host communities.

The Strengthening Adolescents and Youth (SAY) Programme is a vital initiative focused on increasing access to and utilization of SRHR and SGBV services for young people, including those in refugee settlements, across five districts in Uganda.

Ms. Kristine Blokhus, UNFPA Country Representative, emphasized the strategic alignment of the initiative.

“The SAY Programme is a model for integrated development and humanitarian support. The inclusion of our male champions alongside the Ambassador ensures that we are actively engaging men and boys as allies to accelerate progress toward ending GBV and achieving zero preventable maternal deaths and zero unmet need for family planning,” Blokhus said.

Romney Blessing, a member of Alere Secondary School Health club, said that “When I heard about the school Health club. I joined it, and the club really impacted me a lot. It gave me the right. I have the right to speak in front of people to express my feeling, to speak in public, and take good decision for myself and for the school and for everybody in the school,”

Mawut Thon Mawut, one of the role model boys, highlighted the impact of the project on the youths within the settlements and the host communities.

“Actually, in our community men for them they just to stay at home. They don’t do anything. While women, they are the one doing house work like cooking. For us men in our tribe we don’t cook. You just wait for the food. You come and eat. And if there’s no food, you’ll end up beating the wife. At least now there’s change in our community,” said Mawut.

Mawut also explained that “previously people used to fight every day and night. But nowadays there’s a reduction of violence. Boys they are seriously helping their sisters. Seeing the culture where we came from, boys are not supposed to do house works. But since this program came in, at least 50% of the population are now understanding,”.

Kabange Eva, 25, a mother of three children and refugee from Alere settlement narrated her experience before and after the project.

“My husband used to beat me almost every day but when the role model men went to advise him, we are now having peace at home. Previously, our men are not helping us even you are sick or pregnant because they say after all I have paid fifty cows for your bride price and you must work because there is a culture of parents marrying off their young girls to get more cattle but now it’s not too much and at least our men are also accompanying us to the health centers for antenatal and even when we are sick they take us for treatment and also do house work sometimes”, Eva narrated.

Droma William, a member of role model men, who is a Ugandan and a beneficiary of the SAY project said that “Before this project came, we don’t interact with the refuges like today, we don’t associate So, I thank the government of Denmark support and for bringing this project to us. Because you can see really there are changes amount from before this project came, we used to fight with our brothers and wives and now the fighting level instability between us dropped from 80% to now 30%.  So, thank you very much, especially the implementing partner. I wish you continue to support us so that there will be total co-existing between the host communities and the refugees,”.

The interactions with the Ambassador, the UNFPA Representative, and the acclaimed activists were intended to inspire and challenge young boys and girls to become agents of change. The visit enhanced visibility for the Women Uganda 2025+ campaign and generated compelling content to strengthen advocacy efforts, aligning with the focus on girls’ leadership and the role of male champions in communities.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer for Adjumani West Constituency, Hon. Tandrupasi Patrick, has been duly nominated to participate in the race.

Hon. Tandrupasi Patrick, however expressed deep disappointment over what he termed as the militarization of his nomination procession by security forces.

Tandrupasi who is a member of the National Executive Committee Member and Deputy Secretary In charge of Transport and Communication is set to contest against Rt.Hon. General Moses Ali, the four-star general and long-serving Adjumani West Member of Parliament.

Speaking shortly after being nominated by the Adjumani District Electoral Commission, Tandrupasi described the heavy security deployment during his nomination as “an act of injustice and segregation”, saying it undermines the spirit of free and fair elections.

He also said that his supporters were intimidated and dispersed by police and army personnel who heavily surrounded the nomination grounds and major routes leading to the town.

“The presence of armed soldiers at a democratic exercise sends a wrong signal to the voters. This is not war, it is an election where every candidate should be treated equally and fairly,” Tandrupasi lamented.

He further accused the government of using security forces to instil fear among the electorate, warning that such actions could discourage citizen participation in the electoral process.

Despite the alleged intimidation, Tandrupasi vowed to continue his campaign peacefully and uphold the values of democracy, urging his supporters to remain calm and committed to change through the ballot.

 “We shall not be intimidated. Our struggle is for justice, equality, and freedom of choice for the people of Adjumani West,” he emphasized.

The contest between Tandrupasi Patrick and Rt. Hon. General Moses Ali marks the second time the two rivals will face off for the Adjumani West Parliamentary seat, setting the stage for a highly anticipated political showdown in the upcoming 2026 elections. The duo first faced off in the 2021 elections.

END.

By Anzoo Evaline.

The incumbent Member of Parliament for Adjumani East Constituency, Hon. Mamawi James, has been duly nominated as an independent candidate to contest in the forthcoming general elections.

Mamawi, aged 38, decided to run independently after losing the NRM party primaries to Hon. Angel Dulu Mark, a development that surprised many of his supporters across the constituency.

Speaking to the press shortly after his nomination at the Adjumani District Electoral Commission office, Hon. Mamawi said his decision to return to the race was in response to the overwhelming call from his constituents, who urged him not to give up on the projects he had initiated during his first term in Parliament.

“My coming back is not for personal gain, but because the people of Adjumani East requested me to continue. One term was not enough to finish what I started, especially in the areas of education, health, and infrastructure,” Mamawi stated confidently.

He further appealed to the people to trust him once again, pledging to build on the foundation he has already laid and to deliver more tangible development if re-elected.

“I believe in service, not politics of division. I call upon all my supporters to remain peaceful and united as we focus on the future of our constituency,” he added.

Hon. Mamawi’s independent candidature has set the stage for a tight and competitive race in Adjumani East race, with observers predicting a fierce contest between him and the NRM flag bearer, Hon. Angel Dulu Mark.

The nomination exercise attracted hundreds of his supporters, who escorted him through the streets of Adjumani Town, chanting slogans of unity and continuity.

Mama Periana Dralanyi on behalf of his supporters has pledged their total support for Mamawi describing him a young, energetic and dedicated leader who has brought a lot of change during his time of office.

“We are going to vote for him because he still have a lot to for us the people of Adjumani east”, Perina noted. 

END.

By Anzoo Evaline

The 2^nd Deputy Prime Minister and long-serving Member of Parliament for Adjumani West Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. General Moses Ali, has been successfully nominated to contest in the forthcoming general elections.

The veteran politician, who is also a four-star general, arrived at the Adjumani District Electoral Commission offices amidst cheers from hundreds of his supporters, who thronged the streets of Adjumani Town to witness the event.

Dressed in his signature yellow National Resistance Movement (NRM) attire, General Ali was accompanied by party officials, elders, and youth leaders who praised his decades of leadership and contribution to the development of the district and the country at large.

Speaking shortly after his nomination, General Ali’s Personal Assistant, Michael Bwesigye, expressed gratitude to the residents of Adjumani for their continued trust and confidence in his leadership, pledging to continue championing development, unity, and peace in Adjumani West.

“I thank the people of Adjumani for the unwavering support they have shown to the General over the years. Together, we have achieved much, but there is still more to be done and General has pledge to serve his with dedication and integrity,” Michael said.

His nomination has drawn excitement among residents, with many describing him as a pillar of stability and experience in both local and national politics.

The nomination event also marked the beginning of what observers expect to be a highly competitive race for the Adjumani West parliamentary seat, as General Ali faces renewed challenge from opposition candidates, including FDC’s Hon. Tandrupasi Patrick.

END.