Former MP Ogwari Speaking to the crowds recently
Agule County’s political season has taken a tense turn as former MP Hon. Polycarp Ogwari openly blamed incumbent MP David Ochwa for allegedly sponsoring rivals to undercut his support base.
Speaking during a series of campaign stopovers across the county, Ogwari accused Ochwa of orchestrating a strategy to weaken his hold on key sub-counties by backing Mr. Okello Herbert, whom he claims is being used to divide votes in his strongholds of Kameke, Akisim, and Boliso.
Hon. Ogwari, who previously served as Member of Parliament for Agule County for less than two years before the Court of Appeal annulled his election over academic qualification issues, has been working to reclaim his lost seat.
During his countywide drive, he did not mince words about what he called a betrayal by Okello.
“It is regrettable for Okello to accept being used by Ochwa to reduce my support when we are from the same belt,” Ogwari told voters at a stopover rally.
He also alleged that Okello’s high-profile project of installing solar security lights in trading centres across the county was not his personal initiative but rather a scheme funded and directed by MP Ochwa to boost Okello’s popularity.
“Okello is busy planting solar lights everywhere, but I am aware that is Ochwa’s initiative. I ask you to vote for me so I can get the NRM flag because I was wrongly ejected by court which clearly leans towards NRM candidates,” he said.
Ogwari, who is running as an NRM-leaning independent after his previous disqualification, also used the rallies to demand that MP Ochwa face him openly in joint campaign events and account for his own academic credentials.
“Is it possible for someone to acquire new academic papers in just a year? And would Professor Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, approve such a nomination? Let him come and explain that to you during joint campaigns,” Ogwari challenged.
He appealed to voters to give him a full term in parliament so he can complete development programs he claims were abandoned following his removal from office.
“If I had remained in parliament, I would have already lobbied for seed secondary schools in Chelekura, Boliso, and Akisim sub-counties. Parliament is about lobbying and being vibrant on the floor of the House, and I want to give you a full dose of that,” he said.
Ogwari also lashed out at some of his other rivals.
He sharply criticized Bishop Oullo Simon Peter’s candidacy, accusing the former cleric of abandoning his spiritual calling to engage in divisive politics.
“It’s wrong for Bishop Oullo to leave his calling of cleansing souls and get involved in dirty politics,” he told a gathering.
He was similarly dismissive of Ibaseret Josephine, who resigned as Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Namisindwa to contest for the Agule County seat.
Ogwari said she had shown disrespect for the trust placed in her by President Yoweri Museveni.
“It was disrespectful for her to abandon that trust and now try to ride on it for votes,” he said.
Despite Ogwari’s accusations, Mr. Okello Herbert defended his candidacy, insisting it was an independent decision.
“Nobody can influence me. This is not the first time I am contesting, and I am here on my own merit,” Okello said when contacted.
For his part, Bishop Oullo declined to be drawn into the growing verbal war.
“I have no comment on someone’s thinking because that is not an item in my manifesto for Agule,” he told Teso News Network.
Attempts to get a comment from MP David Ochwa himself were unsuccessful as calls to his known phone numbers went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Ogwari’s campaign team has been mobilizing at the grassroots level to reinforce his narrative.
Patrick Arionget, Ogwari’s campaign manager and also the NRM chairperson for Akisim Sub-county, used a rally at Omuroka Primary School to urge voters to scrutinize all candidates carefully.
“People should be keen during joint campaigns so that they get the best choice and avoid those who make Ogwari’s education their entire manifesto,” he said.
Agule County is shaping up for a competitive race with at least six candidates in the running: incumbent MP Ochwa David, former Pallisa Town Council LC3 Chairperson Patrick Okiring, Ibaseret Josephine, Okello Herbert, Bishop Oullo Simon Peter, and Polycarp Ogwari himself.
With tensions rising and accusations flying, voters in Agule County face a tough choice as the campaigns gather steam in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in the region.
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