Ngora County Member of Parliament, Hon. Juliet Achayo Lodou, appears to have gained an unexpected political edge as three of her potential challengers publicly declared a joint alliance to field a single candidate against her in the forthcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.
The trio include; Hon. Orengeje Simon Peter, Hon. Abala David, and Hon. Paul Okwalinga
The three politicians, who have each previously expressed interest in contesting for the Ngora County Parliamentary seat, signed a joint declaration on Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day, pledging unity and a commitment to front one common candidate to “save Ngora from fragmented representation.”
In their statement titled “Joint Declaration and Commitment by the Sons of Ngora County,” the trio emphasized that they were shelving personal ambitions to foster unity, strengthen political coordination, and consolidate support behind a single candidate deemed most suitable to unseat the incumbent.
“Only one of us shall contest for the Ngora County Parliamentary seat for the 2026–2031 term. The remaining two shall give their full and unwavering support to the chosen candidate,” the joint declaration read in part.
“We call upon our supporters and all voters of Ngora County to rally behind this united decision. Ngora County is greater than any individual interest.”
The statement, which was jointly signed and released to the public, framed the decision as a “turning point” in local politics, an attempt to prevent vote-splitting among Achayo’s rivals, which many analysts say has been a recurring weakness in previous elections.
However, political observers in Teso Sub-region argue that the alliance may have come too late, as Hon. Juliet Achayo Lodou has already built a commanding reputation rooted in visible service delivery, strong community engagement, and consistent lobbying for development projects in Ngora.
Over the past Four years, Achayo has spearheaded tangible achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and women’s empowerment, winning her broad support among both rural and urban voters.
Her record includes the rehabilitation of rural schools, provision of health equipment to local facilities, and youth empowerment programs through SACCOs and skill-building initiatives.
Local political commentator James Okurut notes that while the alliance signifies a maturing opposition in Ngora, it may paradoxically strengthen Achayo’s political stature.
“The unity of her rivals actually confirms that Achayo has become the dominant force in Ngora politics. When three men have to merge to face one woman, it shows her strength rather than her weakness,” Okurut remarked.
Supporters of the incumbent MP were quick to celebrate the news online, describing the move as a “symbolic victory” for Achayo’s political resilience.
Others claimed that the coalition’s success would depend on which of the three leaders eventually becomes the flagbearer, warning that internal competition could still re-emerge during the selection process.
For now, Hon. Juliet Achayo Lodou continues to project calm confidence, focusing on ongoing community engagements and development initiatives.
Whether the new alliance will threaten her re-election bid or simply reaffirm her dominance remains to be seen, but for now, as one observer put it, “Achayo has the last laugh.”
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