Pallisa District, Uganda – The race for the Woman Member of Parliament seat in Pallisa District is heating up as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries approach. Incumbent MP Kevin Kaala Ojinga, who is currently serving her first term, faces stiff competition from three determined challengers eager to unseat her.
Confident in her track record, Ms. Kaala has been actively campaigning and urging voters to grant her another term. “I am still willing and ready to serve the people of Pallisa, and when that time comes, please rally behind me the very way we did it last time,” she stated during a recent voter engagement event. She claims to have fulfilled 95% of her manifesto promises, particularly highlighting her initiative to reward high-performing Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) students, which she believes has positively impacted academic performance in the district.
However, critics argue that despite these initiatives, Pallisa continues to rank poorly in national PLE results, undermining her claims of success. Catherine Achola, one of the challengers, has been vocal about addressing systemic issues in education, criticizing Ms. Kaala’s approach as superficial. “We lack about 800 teachers, and the teacher-to-pupil ratio is too high to adequately prepare learners to compete nationally. I am coming to correct that,” Achola stated while engaging with voters.
Other candidates include former MP Miriam Amoit and newcomer Jane Abbo, both emphasizing transformative leadership to tackle long-standing challenges in education, healthcare, and infrastructure within the district.
As the primaries draw near, political analysts warn that tribal dynamics may play a significant role in the election outcome. Pallisa is home to multiple tribes, primarily the Bagwere and Iteso, and tribal allegiances could overshadow merit-based decisions. “Unfortunately, tribal considerations often influence elections in Pallisa,” noted political analyst Nicholas Osaku.
With NRM leaders actively campaigning across sub-regions to rally support, voters are being urged to prioritize competence and track records over tribal affiliations when selecting their next representative. The stakes are high as this race will determine not only the NRM’s flag bearer but also the district’s direction in addressing pressing development challenges