Six candidates have been nominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Electoral Commission as it seeks to fill the position to carry the party’s flag in the forthcoming Adjumani West parliamentary by-election, following the death of General Moses Ali, the former First Deputy Prime Minister and long-serving legislator.
Those nominated on the first day include Mr Ben Anyama, Mr Nixon Owole, Mr James Pilli Leku, Mr Justine Mawadri, Mr Richard Madrara Obuni and Mr Daniel Izale.
According to the NRM Electoral Commission Commissioner, Ambassador James Williams Kinobe, the two-day exercise, which started on Monday, ends this week, following last week’s expression-of-interest exercise.
‘Seven aspirants picked forms and expressed interest in contesting for the NRM flag between August 10 and 14. Six of the seven aspirants have now been duly nominated, with the nomination process continuing until tomorrow, August 18.’ He said on Monday evening.
Mr Kinobe, however, warned that expressing interest or even being nominated does not necessarily mean that all the aspirants will eventually appear on the ballot in the NRM primary.
‘Expression of interest is not final. Candidates can express interest but lose interest before the time of nomination. Even nomination is not final because engagements are going to continue until the campaigns and the primaries, until we get one candidate,’ he said.
He was giving an update on the pending by-election program for Adjumani West, where he said the party will continue engaging the aspirants in an effort to achieve consensus and avoid dividing party supporters ahead of the general by-election.
He urged all aspirants to conduct peaceful and harmonious campaigns, noting that the candidates will participate in joint campaign activities and coordinate their movements within the constituency.
Once the consensus is reached, the party could settle on a single candidate without holding a primary.
However, if the aspirants fail to agree, the NRM Electoral Commission will proceed with a primary election, with the winner becoming the party’s flag bearer.’ He added
The Commissioner further cautioned against situations where an NRM flag bearer faces another NRM-leaning independent candidate in the general election, saying such a contest could divide the party’s support.
Following the closure of the NRM nomination exercise today, the aspirants will embark on joint campaigns from August 20 to September 1, 2026.
The NRM primary is scheduled for September 3, 2026, when the party will select its flag bearer if consensus is not reached.
Candidates
In an earlier interview, Mr James Leku Pili, who is former Adjumani District Local Government Chairperson, said his campaign will be anchored on an eight-point programme that seeks to build on and advance the vision and development priorities of the late Gen Moses Ali.
Among them are infrastructural development with interest in Laropi Bridge, which he says is critical to improving connectivity, trade and the movement of people and goods in the area.
According to the National Electoral Commission program, nomination of candidates for the parliamentary by-election will take place on September 7 and 8, 2026, with voting taking place on September 17, 2026.