The race for Kioga North parliamentary seat in Amolatar District is shaping up as a straight contest between Mr Geoffrey Ocen of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Mr Peter Okodo, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer, after incumbent MP Mr James Olobo shifted to Kaberamaido County.
Mr Ocen, also the district LC5 chairman, said his candidacy is motivated by the challenges facing the local fishing community, particularly the deployment of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers attached to the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU).
‘If I am in Parliament, I will come out with a Private Member’s Bill to address the size of the boat which is affordable to the ordinary citizens and they can use it for catching fish for both consumption and for sale at village markets,’ he said.
He criticised the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2023, arguing it generalises regulation instead of empowering local leaders elected by the community to manage fishing activities.
‘My closeness with the local community has made me aware of the problems they are facing in regard to the fishing activities. Therefore, if I go to Parliament, I will have the law amended.so that when the army removes soldiers from the lake, there is no gap in regulating the fishing activities,’ he told Monitor.
Ocen also pledged to lobby for Amolatar Health Centre IV to be upgraded to a general hospital, citing the need for specialized doctors, equipment, and better ambulance support. He called for amendments to the Public Finance Management Act to allow more direct allocation of funds to local government accounts.
‘So, there is a need for an amendment.If it’s kept at the Bank of Uganda, it’s just a way of not giving money to the districts because it’s always only indicated in the papers,’ he added.
Okodo, the ruling NRM party candidate, said his priority is addressing the displacement of communities around Lake Kyoga due to frequent flooding.
‘For the last 10 years, the community who live around Lake Kyoga have been experiencing frequent floods caused by the rising water levels on the lake and most of them have been forced to leave their homes. I will lobby the government to come out with a special programme to support the affected families,’ he said.
He also pledged to promote the 4-acre model advocated by President Museveni, aiming to transform local land into viable agribusiness and lift residents from poverty.
‘We are entering into a money economy and I want to assure my people that even if we don’t have enough land, I want to work with you and train you on new ways of farming. We must make sure that agriculture becomes a real business,’ Okodo said.
Uganda will hold its General Election on January 15, 2026 to decide new lawmakers and president of the East African country for the next five years.
About Kioga North
Kioga North Constituency has a total population of 97,955, comprising 46,981 males and 50,974 females, according to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census.
The constituency consists of eight sub-counties, one town council, and 52 parishes.
There are 61,127 registered voters in Kioga North, including 31,578 females and 29,549 males, according to the Electoral Commission. The constituency also has 129 polling stations.