The race for the Kumi County parliamentary seat is set to be one of the most heated contests in Teso Sub-region politics after Solomon Opio, the main challenger to Minister of State for Energy Hon. Syndorious Opolot Okaasai, was officially nominated to contest in the upcoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections.
The nomination exercise, conducted at the NRM Party headquarters in Kampala, was presided over by the party’s Electoral Commission chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who confirmed that Opio had met all requirements and would be among the aspirants vying for the party’s flag in Kumi County.
Solomon Opio, a former independent candidate and current NRM District General Secretary for Kumi, is making a political comeback with full backing of the party structures, a development that signals a dramatic turn in the internal political dynamics of the ruling party in Kumi District.
Opio’s nomination marks the return of one of the fiercest rivalries in Teso politics.
In the 2021 general elections, Opio contested as an independent after losing the NRM primaries, and despite lacking official party backing, he posted an impressive 8,991 votes.
Minister Okaasai, then enjoying the full support of the NRM machinery, won the seat with 15,491 votes.
The contest also featured several other candidates including Simon Peter Obilan (2,655 votes), Godfrey Obore (2,096 votes), FDC’s Sam Emorut (1,650), DP’s John Charles Ilakut (710), and NUP’s Twalib Osama (195 votes).
Many political analysts have since noted that had Opio carried the party flag in 2021, the outcome could have been different.
Now, with Opio firmly inside the NRM structure and commanding grassroots support, he is expected to pose a significant threat to the incumbent minister.
His nomination has already ignited enthusiasm among youth and local council leaders, especially in Ongino, Tisai, and Kanapa Sub-counties.
Speaking shortly after his nomination, Opio delivered a strong message of unity, focus, and determination.
“Today, 5th June 2025, I come before the people of Kumi not as an outsider, but as your servant, chosen as your General Secretary and now ready to serve you as Member of Parliament,” Opio said.
He dismissed rumors that had earlier circulated suggesting he had been paid off or sidelined from politics.
“Let me make this clear: I have never been bought. I have never been suspended. I have never worked under the incumbent. These were lies meant to weaken our spirit, but you the people stood with me. And today, we stand strong and united for the next chapter.”
Opio emphasized that his campaign will focus on service delivery, infrastructure improvement, and youth empowerment. He also reiterated his long-standing pledge to champion the elevation of Mother Ongino to county status.
“With your support and through Opio Solomon, consider this a done deal,” he said to cheering supporters gathered at his home in Ongino.
For Minister Opolot Okaasai, the entry of Opio into the party primary race poses a serious challenge.
As a sitting Cabinet Minister and national figure, Okaasai has overseen several rural electrification programs and renewable energy initiatives.
However, critics say his local visibility in Kumi County has declined since he took up the ministerial post.
While Okaasai remains a formidable figure within NRM circles and is expected to contest in the primaries, he now faces an opponent with increasing popularity, growing organizational strength, and the momentum of grassroots mobilization.
Sources close to the NRM secretariat indicate that the party will deploy monitoring teams in hotspot constituencies, including Kumi County, to ensure transparency, given the high-stakes nature of the race.
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