Voters oust MPs, ministers, shake up parliament

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Voters across Uganda delivered a dramatic and often unpredictable verdict in the parliamentary elections, voting out several serving ministers, long-time incumbents and political heavyweights while ushering in a wave of fresh faces, write Vision Reporters.

Several ministers, long-serving incumbents and political heavyweights were voted out of Parliament as voters across the country delivered a mixed verdict that saw fresh faces emerge and dominant parties consolidate power in some regions while losing ground in others.

The losses, recorded in many districts including Serere, Bududa, Moyo, Fort Portal city, Bugweri and Busiro East, underscored a highly competitive race in which party strength, local dynamics and voter expectations combined to reshape the parliamentary map.

SERERE

In Serere district, the state minister for fisheries, Hellen Adoa, suffered a major upset after being trounced by independent candidate Esther Lucy Acom in the Woman MP race. In Kasilo county, long-serving legislator Elijah Okupa, who had contested on an independent ticket, lost his seat to Emaju Peter Paul of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Elsewhere in the district, NRM’s Emmanuel Omoding retained Serere county, while in Pingire county, Peter Ojiit beat incumbent Fred Opolot, marking another significant turnover. Opolot was a former executive director of the Uganda Media Centre and a former spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry.

Similar defeats were recorded in Bududa district, where former state minister for Karamoja affairs Agnes Nandutu lost the Woman MP seat to Agnes Shiuma of NRM. Shiuma polled 20,072 votes against Nandutu’s 18,921, according to official results. Other candidates in the race trailed far behind.

KABAROLE

In Kabarole district woman MP seat, Victoria Rusoke (independent) had lost the race to Sarah Kabarokole, the NRM flag-bearer, according to provisional results.

In Lira city woman MP race, health minister Jane Aceng (NRM) has beaten Betty Amongi (UPC), the minister for gender, labour and social development.

In Moyo district, the state minister for primary education, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, was defeated by NRM’s Benedetta Chandia Kodili. Kodili secured 15,398 votes, while Kaducu polled 14,488 in a closely fought contest.

In Fort Portal city central division, Alex Ruhunda, an NRM legislator who had served for 15 years, was voted out by independent candidate Ronald Muhenda. Muhenda garnered 10,831 votes against Ruhunda’s 7,461, ending one of the longest parliamentary tenures in the area.

The race attracted eight candidates, but Muhenda and Ruhunda dominated the contest, leaving the rest with minimal tallies.

KATUNTU OUT

Another notable loss occurred in Bugweri county, where veteran opposition politician Abdu Katuntu, running as an independent, lost to Haji Wandera Sadala, a former Resident District Commissioner.

Katuntu.

In Nakaseke South, incumbent Paulson Luttaamaguzi Ssemakula of NUP was defeated by NRM’s Charles Nsereko, while in Ajuri county, the Government Chief Hamson Dennis Obua was trailing by last night.

In Busiro East, Emmanuel Magoola, an independent leaning towards the National Unity Platform (NUP), scored a decisive victory with 35,361 votes. He defeated NRM’s Abdul Kiyimba, who polled 17,744 votes, while incumbent Medard Ssegona (independent) managed only 4,503 votes.

David Becham Okweere was declared the winner for Bukedea county after polling 68,103 votes, representing 83.64% of the total vote. He defeated incumbent Bosco Ikojo, who managed 10,458 votes.

Announcing the results on Friday morning, January 16, 2026, Bukedea district returning officer Joel Mugenyi confirmed the landslide outcome.

Okweere attributed his win to collective effort and perseverance. He said teamwork and patience made the difference. In the Woman MP race, Anita Annet Among (NRM) reclaimed her Bukedea seat unopposed, while in Kachumbala county, Patrick Opolot Isiagi (NRM) returned to Parliament unopposed.

In Ngora constituency, Juliet Achayo Lodou retained her seat with 15,077 votes, beating independent candidate David Abala, who polled 6,424 votes.

HOIMA

In Hoima district, NRM swept all parliamentary elective positions. Beatrice Wembabazi defeated incumbent Woman MP Harriet Busiinge Mugenyi, polling 35,811 votes against Mugenyi’s 14,725.

Following her victory, Wembabazi pledged to prioritise community engagement.

“I will first consult communities before introducing any development programmes,” she said.

In Kigorobya county, NRM’s Gerald Kasigwa trounced incumbent David Karubanga after polling 12,175 votes against Karubanga’s 8,796. Kasigwa said he would push for the construction of a skilling centre for the area.

Bugahya county MP Pius Wakabi secured a third term with 30,923 votes, defeating Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) candidate Hebert Tugume Kefa. Wakabi later said he would focus on equipping residents with modern technology to improve productivity.

In Buliisa district, NRM incumbents Allan Atugonza and Norah Bigirwa Nyendwoha both retained their seats. Atugonza won the Buliisa county race, while Bigirwa defended the Woman MP seat. Soroti city and district produced mixed results.

In Soroti city East, Moses Okia Attan reclaimed the seat previously held by Herbert Edmund Ariko, who had moved to contest in Gweri county.

In Soroti city West, David Calvin Echodu retained his position, while Joan Acom Alobo of FDC regained the Soroti city Woman MP seat.

In Soroti district, FDC’s Adeke Anna Ebaju retained the Woman MP seat, while NRM candidates held Soroti county, Dakabela county and Gweri county.

In Mwenge central, Kasukali Methusela NRM joins Parliament for the first time after getting 17,900 votes against PFF’s Doreen Nyanjura, who got 8,000 votes, while Patrick Sisa, independent 7,000 votes.

In Chua East county, the state minister for international relations, Henry Okello Oryem of NRM, lost to John Clavin Okoya (independent), while in Kitgum Municipality, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) strongman, Dennis Onekalit Amere, defeated NRM’s Beatrice Atim Anywar, who is also the state minister for environment.

Okoya polled 14,688, while Oryem got 12, 297 votes. For Kitgum Municipality, Amere garnered 6,176, while Anywar polled 5, 013 votes.

For Kampala Central, the Kampala Central minister, Minsa Kabanda, trounced NUP’s secretary general, David Lewis Rubongoya. Kabanda got 22,332 votes. Rubongoya polled 18,242 votes.

In Kumi district, state minister for energy Opolot Okaasai Sidoneous retained Kumi county, while independents Silas Aogon and Christine Apolot also held their respective seats.

In Jinja district, NRM’s Alex Brandon Kintu lost Kagoma North to journalist John Odwori of NUP, who polled 9,593 votes. Kintu finished third with 4,302 votes.

In Butembe county, FDC’s Grace Wanzala Kirya won the race, edging out NRM’s Jacob Kabondo. For the Kayunga woman MP race, the former state minister for lands, Ida Nantaba (NRM), polled 16,138 votes, losing to Harriet Nalweende (NUP).

Across the affected districts, the defeats of ministers and senior figures highlighted a growing voter appetite for change in some constituencies, even as NRM tightened its grip in others, setting the tone for a Parliament marked by both continuity and renewal.

NRM’s Samuel Engola has been declared the Erute South county Member of Parliament after beating two other contenders.

Engola garnered 22,404 votes while UPC’s Jonathan Odur and the incumbent came second with 16,066 votes, followed by independent candidate Peter Ogwang, who trailed with 465 votes.



In Chekwii East county, the Karamoja minister, Peter Lokeris, was defeated by Stephen Ilukol.

NRM makes strong comeback in Teso

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has made a strong comeback in the Teso sub-region, with newly elected ruling party Members of Parliament displacing several seasoned Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) politicians across key constituencies.

Political analysts attribute the NRM resurgence partly to strategic shifts by senior politicians, including Edmund Ariko’s decision to move from Soroti City East to contest in Gweri County, a move that significantly altered the political dynamics in the area.

In Gweri County, Ariko (NRM) polled 11,862 votes to defeat four other contenders. His closest challenger, Samuel Eninu Ekaju (IDP), scored 3,359 votes, while incumbent Tom Julius Ekudo (FDC) garnered 2,070 votes. David Asubu (IDP) polled 255 votes, and Abel Opolot trailed with 178 votes, according to Soroti District Returning Officer Joseph Mukwaya.

In Soroti County, incumbent Patrick Aeko (NRM) was declared the winner with 9,747 votes. Other contenders included Daniel Eigu (FDC), who had earlier withdrawn from the race but still polled 569 votes; Stephen Ejoku (IDP) with 2,060 votes; Meshullem Elupe (NUP) with 134 votes; Samuel Eninu (iDP) with 5,853 votes; Emmanuel Omara with 191 votes; and Jimmy Oriokot with 189 votes.

In the Woman MP race, incumbent Anna Adeke (FDC) retained her seat with 33,732 votes. She defeated Jesca Leah Amigo (NRM), who polled 27,076 votes, while Rose Joan Egabu (IDP) secured 2,855 votes.

In Dakabela county, Soroti district, Peter Edeku Edopu (nrM) polled 9,588 votes to defeat Cosmas Elotu, the incumbent, who contested as an independent after opting out of the NRM primaries and polled 4,393 votes. Harriet Anyimo (IDP) garnered 8,180 votes, Jonathan Erau (FDC) polled 2,352 votes, James Odongo (IDP) received 2,412 votes, while Moses Okello trailed with 83 votes.

In Ochero county, Kaberamaido district, NRM’s Francis Okullu won the race after polling 7,996 votes, defeating incumbent Julius Emigu, who polled 4,332 votes. Other contenders included former MP Veronica Isalla Eregu with 2,482 votes, Anthony Ochieng (IDP) with 782 votes, and Isaac Emaju with 510.

In Soroti city, West, NRM vice chairperson for eastern Uganda, David Calvin Echodu, defeated incumbent MP Jonathan Ebwalu (FDC).

Story Compiled by John Odyek, Nelson Mandela Muhoozi, David Opus, Simon Ongodia, Wilson Asiimwe, Alfred Atwau, Francis Ocen and Felix Osujo