Ngora District Chairman, Odongo Mike L’Asio, has officially dumped the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) after losing in the just-concluded party primaries.
In a dramatic political turn, Odongo was today nominated to contest for the District Chairperson seat under the newly formed Democratic Front (DF), a party associated with Nyendo–Mukungwe legislator Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba.
The announcement has sent shockwaves across Ngora and the wider Teso sub-region, where Odongo has been a long-serving mobilizer of the NRM and a key player in district politics for over a decade.
Odongo, who first rose to prominence through his writings and critic to the NRM Government before becoming the LC V Chairperson, has for years styled himself as a “trusted son of the NRM.”
However, the September 2025 primaries saw him defeated.
Speaking shortly after his nomination, Odongo declared that his political journey had taken a new path.
“The NRM has abandoned its core values of fairness, unity, and service to the people. I cannot continue in a party where the will of the people is suppressed by money, intrigue, and internal manipulation,” he said.
Odongo accused NRM electoral officials of conducting what he called a “stage-managed primary” that denied him a fair contest.
He said he had been pushed into joining the Democratic Front (DF) after consultations with his supporters, who urged him to stay in the race and not “betray their trust.”
The DF party, led by opposition stalwart and legislator Mathias Mpuuga, has been steadily positioning itself as an alternative force ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Though still relatively new on the political landscape, the party has attracted defectors from both the NRM and traditional opposition groups such as the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Welcoming Odongo into the DF, the Party’s Vice President Eastern Uganda Pascal Amuriat described him as a seasoned leader whose “experience and grassroots connection will add weight to the party’s message of accountability and service.”
“Leaders like Odongo represent the frustration many Ugandans feel within the current political system. His courage to stand firm for the people of Ngora is commendable. We are confident that with him on board, DF will make significant inroads in Teso,” Amuriat said in a statement.
Odongo’s defection has ignited mixed reactions among residents.
His loyalists, who turned up in large numbers during his nomination, carried placards reading “Our Choice, Our Chairperson” and “Ngora Needs Odongo Again.”
Grace Akol, a resident of Ngora Town Council, said the chairman had made the right decision.
“The NRM primaries were a sham. People voted for Odongo but the results were altered. We are happy he did not give up. DF is now our home,” she remarked.
Ngora District, which has traditionally voted overwhelmingly for NRM, now enters the 2026 race with an unpredictable dynamic.
Odongo’s candidature under DF pits him against NRM’s flag bearer Charles Ocen and independent aspirant Sarah Adero, a former district education officer who also received nomination.
Political analysts note that Odongo’s personal popularity, especially in rural sub-counties, could tilt the balance in his favor if the opposition consolidates around him.
However, they caution that running under a relatively unknown party may limit his mobilization power compared to the ruling NRM machinery.
For now, Odongo insists he is not bothered by party labels.
“My campaign is about service, not symbols. The people of Ngora know me, and I know them. I will continue to stand for education, better health services, and youth empowerment,” he told journalists.
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