A wave of grassroots mobilization has emerged in Pingire County as hundreds of voters took to the streets this week calling for the return of former Member of Parliament Fred Opolot in the 2026 general elections.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans in the trading centres across Pingire county, the demonstrators praised Opolot for what they described as “transformative leadership” and accused the current National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer Philip Oucor of using money to secure victory in the recently concluded primaries.
The demonstrations, largely peaceful but highly energized, mark the latest sign of political division within the NRM camp in Serere.
They also underscore the depth of loyalty that Opolot, who has been silent since losing the 2025 primaries, continues to command among his supporters.
Among the most vocal protesters were local leaders such as Constant Epielu, Ajoki, and Adela, who announced the formation of a new pressure group, dubbed “G40.”
The group’s mission, they said, is to campaign relentlessly for Opolot’s comeback in 2026, regardless of the outcome of the NRM primaries.
“We cannot sit back and watch our county slide into the hands of leaders who buy votes but deliver nothing. Hon. Fred Opolot has been a true son of the soil, a man who brought tangible development to our people,” said Epielu, amid chants from the crowd.
Ajoki, another member of the G40, argued that Oucor’s victory in the primaries was “a result of financial influence rather than genuine popularity.”
He called on the NRM Electoral Commission to take voter bribery seriously if the party is to maintain unity in Teso.
The demonstrators cited several development programs that Opolot initiated during his tenure, programs they said have left a lasting legacy in Pingire.
Among them: Opolot spearheaded the construction and renovation of classroom blocks in all Sub counties across Pingire county, ensuring better learning environments for children.
He also provided scholarships to needy but bright students, particularly girls, to help bridge the education gap.
Under Health Infrastructure: Working with the Ministry of Health and development partners, Opolot lobbied for the upgrading of Pingire Health Centre III to handle more specialized cases, reducing the burden on Serere Hospital.
He also supported maternal health campaigns and equipped health centres with beds and essential drugs.
In Roads and Infrastructure: Under his lobbying, several feeder roads were rehabilitated, connecting remote villages to trading centres.
Farmers have since found it easier to transport produce to markets.
Youth and Women Empowerment: Opolot was instrumental in channeling government programs like Emyooga and Parish Development Model funds to youth and women groups.
He also initiated a vocational skills program that trained young people in tailoring, carpentry, and mechanics.
Water and Sanitation: Dozens of boreholes were drilled in water-stressed parishes, significantly reducing the long distances women and children had to walk in search of clean water.
Adela, a member of G40, argued that such programs were proof of Opolot’s vision.
“We are not campaigning for him blindly. We have seen the results of his leadership. Our children are studying in better schools, our mothers are delivering in safer facilities, and our roads are passable because of Opolot,” he said.
The 2025 NRM primaries for Pingire County were among the most hotly contested in Teso.
Philip Oucor, a seasoned politician who previously contested in Serere County, emerged as the flag bearer after edging out Opolot in a race marred by allegations of voter bribery and intimidation.
While the NRM Electoral Commission declared the process free and fair, many in Pingire rejected the outcome, claiming money had played a decisive role.
“The people voted with their stomachs, not with their hearts,” one elder in Kyere lamented. “But in 2026, we shall vote with our conscience, and our conscience tells us to bring back Fred Opolot.”
Breaking his silence for the first time since the primaries, Opolot welcomed the demonstrations as a “gesture of goodwill” from the people of Pingire.
“I have always believed that leadership is about service, not self. If the people of Pingire still see me as a servant of their interests, I am humbled and grateful,” he said in a brief statement.
He stopped short of declaring his candidacy, but insiders close to him suggest that he is carefully weighing his options, including a possible independent run if reconciliation within the NRM fails.
Political analysts warn that the growing rift between Oucor and Opolot camps could fracture NRM support in Pingire ahead of 2026.
With the opposition keen to exploit divisions, the ruling party may face an uphill battle in consolidating its base unless it manages to reconcile the two leaders.
For now, however, the G40 movement has injected new energy into Pingire politics.
Whether this will translate into votes in 2026 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Fred Opolot’s name is back on the lips of many voters, and his legacy of development has become a rallying point for his supporters.
As the political season gains momentum, Pingire finds itself at a crossroads, torn between loyalty to a leader who delivered tangible results and the political realities of party primaries that some residents still view with suspicion.
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