The campaigns for the Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament seat are heating up as candidates intensify their hunt for votes across the area.
The contest has attracted eight candidates, including incumbent Sarah Achieng Opendi (NRM), Awere Phibby Otala (IND), Akoth Angella (IND), Achieng Daphne Mary (NUP), Faith Asiimwe (FDC), Elizabeth Andera (IND), Amali Maurine Selfulose (DF), and Nyafamba Babra Mercy (UPC).
Although the race has attracted eight candidates, indicators show the contest is mainly between the incumbent Sarah Opendi, Phibby Awere Otaala, the former Uganda High Commissioner to Kenya, who came second in the recent NRM party primaries, and Angela Akoth, who came third in the race.
The outcome of the National Resistance Movement party primaries for Tororo district woman Member of Parliament was challenged, but the tribunal upheld Opendi’s victory.
“If I am voted, I want to continue from where I had started,” says Phibby Otaala Awere. She pledges to lobby for the extension of rural electrification to all villages, adding that electricity will help unemployed young people establish workshops and small business enterprises such as barber shops.
“In all my vote mobilisation campaigns, I pledge to wage war against corruption as the only way to allow resources to be redirected to improve service delivery across the district,” she says.
“My focus is on improving education standards as well as uplifting young people, and I can achieve this through mobilizing young people and women into income-generating activities,” she adds.
Achieng Daphne Mary emphasises ending leadership that is relevant only in times of sorrow and instead teaching communities to fish by giving them hooks, not fish.
Despite facing heat from opponents, Opendi remains confident.
“I am not worried about those contesting against me because some of them are just projects by some leaders in the district; however, my services to the people will campaign for me,” she said.
She highlights several initiatives she has undertaken during her term, including empowering groups across the district and contributing to the construction of churches.
Angella Akoth, who commands a considerable portion of voters, prioritizes addressing challenges facing local people. She promises to advocate for teachers’ salary increments, emphasising that motivating teachers financially is critical to improving education quality.
“My role as a Member of Parliament will focus on ensuring resources are properly appropriated,” she says. Beyond education, Akoth will tackle poverty by supporting women and youth initiatives, planning to establish women’s savings groups, provide entrepreneurship training, and offer startup kits.
Amali Maureen Sefulose, contesting on the Democratic Front party ticket, promises to establish an education fund in her office, which will support bright students from economically disadvantaged families. She has already linked scholarships to over 100 students pursuing secondary education.
“I don’t say the incumbent has done nothing, but she is incompetent and needs urgent replacement because she is turning out to be more of a celebrity than a legislator, and I am the rightful choice for the people of Tororo District,” she said.