Ex-Ambassador Olwa joins Gulu parliamentary race as independent

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Former Ugandan Ambassador Johnson Olwa Agara, 62, is among six candidates who have been nominated for parliamentary seats in Gulu district.

Agara, who served as Uganda’s Ambassador to Russia from 2019 to 2022, was nominated on October 22, 2025, as an independent candidate for the Aswa County seat.

He is also a member of the NRM party and previously served as Uganda’s Ambassador to Turkey, based in Ankara. This is his second attempt to contest for the seat, and although an NRM member, he did not participate in the party’s primary election.

Agara pledged to use his diplomatic experience to serve the people of Gulu district and work closely with local leaders to combat corruption. He said he would monitor government programmes in health, education, and agriculture, among others, to ensure they reach the local population.

He also observed that the Acholi sub-region remains poor due to rampant corruption and lack of transparency in the use of public funds.

At least five of the expected ten candidates expected by the Electoral Commission in Gulu district were nominated on Wednesday, the first day.

Other candidates included Patrick Okello Onguti, the Democratic Party (DP) flag bearer, who was nominated for the Aswa County seat and declared duly nominated by the district returning officer, Erasmus Kimbowa.

Patrick Okello Onguti, DP flag bearer nominated for Gulu District MP seat. Onguti was declared a duly nominated candidate by the district returning officer, Erasmus Kimbowa. (Photo by Dennis Ojwee)

Okello, a second-time contestant, promised to address issues of government service delivery at the grassroots level with bravery and transparency. He said that with the support of district leaders, he would work toward reducing poverty in Gulu, which he described as one of the biggest challenges in the Acholi sub-region.

He noted that government figures currently put the national poverty level at 68%.

"If I am elected the MP, I will strive to see that the economic activities of the people in Gulu district improve from the current status. There are also problems with internet connection and electricity connection to the national grid. The other issue is the land grabbing and rampant land sale, and its usage for productivity like agriculture, is key in Acholiland," said Okello Onguti.

Okello added that he would work with parents and other stakeholders in Aswa County and the wider district to improve education, particularly academic performance in Primary Leaving Examinations.

Others nominated by the returning officer, Erasmus Kimbowa, included Simon Wokorach, the NRM flag bearer, who was nominated after Janeth Phoebe Ayo Obol, also an NRM flag bearer, was nominated for the Gulu district Woman MP seat.

Janeth Phoebe Ayo Obol NRM flag bearer nominated for Gulu District Woman MP seat. (Photo by Dennis Ojwee)

Independent candidate Nancy Atimango, 34, was also nominated for the Gulu district Woman MP seat.

Atimango said she is committed to improving health facilities in villages and lobbying the government to enhance primary education, especially from subcounty to parish levels. She also pledged to continue supporting women’s groups, noting that she currently supports 30 groups with savings of at least sh300,000 in their bank accounts.

Atimango, contesting for the second time after her first attempt in Laroo-Pece in Gulu city as an NRM flag bearer, promised to advocate for a mindset change among local people to move away from expecting free handouts from politicians and instead focus on development-oriented programmes.

Simon Peter Wokorach, 42, the incumbent NRM MP for Aswa County, said he intends to continue improving service delivery for his constituents.

Simon Wokorach NRM nominated for Gulu District MP seat. (Photo by Dennis Ojwee)

"Just a term (5 years) in the Parliament is definitely not enough for me to do a lot for my people. That is why I am yet seeking another term from my people so that I can accomplish pending issues on education, oversight and health, and poverty, other services deliveries such as roads, economic income, among others," said Okello Wokorach.

Despite facing several hurdles and being turned away on day one, Irene Lalam of the National Unity Platform (NUP) finally secured her nomination on Thursday.

Other candidates expected to be nominated before the end of Thursday are Sharon Balmoi (NRM), the incumbent Gulu district Woman MP. Others are James Oringa of FDC and Walter Okot of NUP, and Moureen Joan Atim from the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) Party.