Ngariam County was on Saturday awash with political excitement as hundreds of residents turned up for a rally in support of parliamentary aspirant Daniel Mulalu, using the platform to demand the extension of solar lighting from trading centres to individual homesteads, citing security, business growth, and community development.
The rally, held in Amorwongora Village, Palam Sub-county, attracted voters from different parts of Ngariam who said access to solar power had already transformed livelihoods and should now be expanded further to reach every household.
Gerald Ariko, the LC1 Chairperson of Amorwongora Village, openly declared his support for Mulalu’s parliamentary bid, crediting him for previous interventions, especially in the area of solar lighting.
“Solar power has helped our youth to operate businesses at night, increased safety, and reduced crime,” Ariko said. “What we are asking for now is extension of this solar light to homesteads so that every family benefits.”
Community members emphasized that the presence of solar lighting has also played a critical role in improving security, particularly in deterring cattle raids.
Residents noted that illuminated trading centres and villages have acted as a permanent security measure against suspected Karamojong cattle rustlers, who often take advantage of darkness to raid livestock.
Charles Joseph Akodu, a member of the School Management Committee at Amorwongora Primary School, echoed the call for transformation, saying Ngariam needed leaders who could effectively represent community concerns at the national level.
“It is time for change,” Akodu said. “We need someone who can articulate our ideas on the floor of Parliament and lobby for services that matter to ordinary people.”
The rally also featured strong political messaging against what speakers described as voter manipulation.
Charles Okure, the Chief Campaigning Manager for Mulalu, cautioned voters against accepting handouts disguised as goodwill gestures.
“Ngariam voters should shun food functions whose intentions are hidden and uncertain,” Okure warned. “Leadership is not bought with food or money. Reject leaders who bribe voters just to get into office.”
Joseph Otala Ebekulasi, a parliamentary candidate for Serere County and a native of Ngariam, reinforced the message, urging residents to reject politicians who he said deceive voters through short-term inducements.
“Our people should not sell their future,” Ebekulasi said. “Ngariam County has suffered land scandals committed under the watch of leaders who were supposed to protect the community. We need leaders who stand firm against land grabbing.”
Mulalu, a prominent political figure with a long history in public service, traced his political journey to his student days in Katakwi District, where he served as an NRM Registrar while still in secondary school.
He later became Katakwi Youth Chairperson for 15 years before rising to senior positions in State House, including Secretary in Charge of Political Mobilization in the Office of the President.
Addressing supporters, Mulalu unveiled a five-point manifesto aimed at uplifting household incomes and improving service delivery.
His key focus areas include youth employment, education, infrastructure development, healthcare, and security.
Among his major pledges is the restoration and expansion of street lighting across Ngariam County to boost business operations, improve safety, and enhance night-time security.
Mulalu also pledged to lobby for more hospital beds to strengthen healthcare services in Katakwi District, noting that he had previously donated 300 electrically adjustable hospital beds and 300 mattresses to health facilities in the region.
“In healthcare, we must go beyond words,” Mulalu said. “I will continue lobbying to ensure our hospitals are equipped to serve our people with dignity.”
He further committed to sustaining his cement donation program, revealing that at least 2,500 bags of cement have already been provided to support the construction of churches, schools, and other community infrastructure.
In education, Mulalu promised continued support for the implementation of the new curriculum, including procurement of desks, beds, and textbooks to improve learning conditions in schools across Ngariam County.
On infrastructure, he highlighted the need to prioritize road development, citing stalled projects such as the St. Stephen–Katanga–Abwokodia road, locally known as Ileic Ogwang, which he said had been promised for works since 2021 without progress.
Mulalu concluded by pledging inclusive leadership, honesty, and equitable service delivery, urging his supporters to protect campaign materials amid reports of vandalism.
“Let us safeguard our solar lights, banners, and posters from those trying to silence our message,” he said.
Ngariam County is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested races, with State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang of the National Resistance Movement facing a crowded field that includes Daniel Mulalu (Independent), Augustine Otuko (Independent), Andrew Joseph Omiat (UPC), Micheal Ochailap Akabwai (NUP), John Baptist Eidit (Independent), and Apuda Ignatius of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
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