Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Joan Alobo, has strongly dismissed claims by her political rivals in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) that voting for NRM candidates in the 2026 general elections would guarantee ministerial appointments for the people of Soroti.
Addressing supporters during a series of rallies in Otucopi, Campswahili, and other parts of Soroti City, Alobo, who is seeking re-election under the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), described the claims as “deceptive and politically manipulative.”
She argued that the Constitution of Uganda empowers the President to appoint ministers from both within and outside Parliament, making it untrue that only elected NRM MPs can secure such appointments.
“The Constitution is clear, ministerial appointments are not rewards for voting one political party. The President can appoint any competent Ugandan, whether they are in Parliament or not. Let no one deceive you that your vote determines who becomes a minister,” Alobo told cheering supporters.
She urged residents to focus on electing leaders based on their commitment to service delivery rather than political affiliations or the lure of high-profile government positions.
According to her, what matters most to citizens are better services such as improved education, healthcare, and market infrastructure, not the number of ministers hailing from the region.
“We must stop being blinded by positions. Having a minister from your district does not automatically translate into development. What our people need are functional schools, hospitals, and roads, not empty promises of titles,” she added.
Alobo cited examples of neighboring districts such as Amuria, Katakwi, and Serere, which, despite having ministers in past and current governments, still grapple with widespread poverty, poor infrastructure, and limited access to social services.
She further referenced the 2022 Soroti City East by-election, where voters were allegedly persuaded to vote for NRM’s Herbert Edmund Ariko with promises that he would soon be appointed a minister.
According to Alobo, three years down the road, the promises remain unfulfilled, exposing what she termed as “the empty propaganda machinery of the NRM.”
“In 2022, they told you to vote for Ariko so Soroti could get a minister. Today, it’s 2025, and Soroti still has no ministerial representation. What we have instead are potholes, understaffed schools, and struggling health centers,” she told the crowd, drawing loud applause.
Alobo called upon the electorate to remain vigilant and resist political manipulation ahead of the 2026 general elections.
She reaffirmed her commitment to continue advocating for the improvement of service delivery, youth empowerment, women’s economic inclusion, and equitable access to education across Soroti City.
“Our fight is for better livelihoods, not titles. Let us vote for leaders who will work for us, not those chasing positions in Kampala,” she concluded.
As political campaigns gain momentum across the Teso sub-region, Alobo’s remarks appear to set the stage for heightened contestation between the FDC and NRM camps in Soroti City, with each side striving to consolidate its base ahead of next year’s decisive polls.
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