With the 2026 general elections drawing closer, the political temperature in the Teso sub-region continues to rise, and Dan Mulalu’s Kazi Ni Kazi Foundation has emerged as a formidable political force after backing grassroots candidates who secured a sweeping 86% win in the recently concluded NRM village-level party elections in Ngariam County.
The Foundation, which has grown in influence across Ngariam County, threw its weight behind several Local Council I (LCI) candidates, most of whom went on to win with significant margins.
The most symbolic victory came in Angopet Cell, Katakwi Town Council, where Gabriel Ogele, a former campaign agent for State Minister for Education and Sports Peter Ogwang, won the LCI seat in a tightly contested race.
Ogele garnered 189 votes, defeating Malinga Collins, a candidate reportedly handpicked by Minister Ogwang himself.
The contest drew sharp attention from both camps, as it symbolized a shifting political dynamic within Katakwi’s NRM structures.
Ogele’s win was not just seen as a local triumph, but as a signal that the Kazi Ni Kazi Foundation is reshaping political allegiances at the grassroots.
Police deployed heavily across the district to maintain order during the voting exercise, which unfolded yesterday and today amid heightened political activity and growing rivalries among emerging power blocs.
Gabriel Ogele’s political journey has long been tied to Minister Peter Ogwang. As one of his lead campaign agents in the 2021 general elections, Ogele was instrumental in mobilizing votes across Katakwi.
However, in a dramatic twist that now defines the tone of the upcoming elections, he crossed over to support Dan Mulalu’s agenda through the Kazi Ni Kazi Foundation.
“It was a decision I made after deep reflection,” Ogele said after his victory. “We need to support leaders and platforms that are close to the people. Dan Mulalu’s Kazi Ni Kazi Foundation understands what service is and listens to our problems.”
Sources close to the campaign revealed that Ogele’s defection came with some internal backlash, including attempts to isolate him from local party activities. However, his landslide win now places him firmly back at the center of local NRM politics.
Dan Mulalu, a private secretary in charge of political Mobilization at the Office of the President launched the Kazi Ni Kazi Foundation in 2022 to provide support to underprivileged communities through skills training, small business funding, and education initiatives.
Over time, the Foundation has become more than a charity, it is now a political machine quietly positioning Mulalu as a future power player in Katakwi and beyond.
During the party village elections, the Foundation provided logistical support to select candidates, helping them to reach out to voters and organize effective campaigns.
“It’s not just about elections. It’s about giving people the opportunity to lead based on service and not just influence,” said a Foundation representative who asked not to be named.
The Foundation’s presence was felt in nearly every village council where its backed candidates ran. Out of every ten candidates supported by Kazi Ni Kazi, nearly nine emerged victorious, giving the Foundation a commanding stake in the local NRM structure.
Political analysts in Teso say that the Foundation’s success may be seen as a quiet rebellion within the NRM’s ranks, particularly in Katakwi District, a stronghold of Minister Ogwang.
Though there is no direct confrontation between the two camps yet, Ogele’s win against Ogwang’s preferred candidate has raised eyebrows.
“This signals a deeper divide within the party’s grassroots networks,” said political commentator Sam Emuron. “Mulalu is not challenging the NRM directly, but he is clearly building a power base within it.”
Despite the tension surrounding today’s elections, the process was largely peaceful. Heavy police presence in polling areas helped prevent any outbreaks of violence, particularly in areas like Angopet Cell where competition was intense.
As the dust settles from the village elections, all eyes now turn to the next phases of the electoral calendar. With new grassroots leadership in place, the stage is set for high-stakes campaigns at parish, sub-county, and county levels.
And while the NRM remains the dominant party in the region, the growing influence of alternative leadership networks like Dan Mulalu’s Kazi Ni Kazi Foundation is changing the game, one village at a time.
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