It was jubilation and excitement in Serere Town on Thursday morningas incumbent Serere County Member of Parliament, Hon. Omoding Emmanuel Okabe, was duly nominated by the Serere District Returning Officer to contest for re-election under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Dressed in a yellow NRM shirt and flanked by hundreds of cheering supporters waving party flags, Hon. Okabe arrived at the nomination grounds in a convoy of vehicles and motorcycles that stretched for nearly a kilometer.
After his successful nomination, the legislator addressed journalists and supporters, expressing gratitude to the people of Serere and reaffirming his loyalty to the NRM and its vision of stability, peace, and socio-economic transformation.
“It’s been a very great day. I’m happy that I’ve been nominated for this great party, NRM. My main focus is to carry forward the vision and dreams of our party and our President, to protect the gains that we’ve achieved over the years,” Hon. Okabe declared, visibly energized by the support from his constituents.
The Serere legislator emphasized that his next term in office will be centered on consolidating the peace, stability, and development achieved under President Museveni’s leadership.
“When we talk about protecting the gains, we must start with security. Uganda has peace today because of the good leadership of our President. But we must also protect the gains in development, our roads, health systems, schools, and infrastructure,” he said.
Hon. Okabe pledged to continue lobbying for improved infrastructure in Serere District, including the long-awaited tarmacking of the Kumi–Ngora–Serere–Kagwara road, which he said would open up the district to trade, investment, and tourism.
“The pledge for the Kumi–Ngora–Serere–Kagwara road is a big one, and I’m optimistic that it will soon become a reality. This will not only improve transport but also attract investors and businesspeople to Serere,” he noted.
He also revealed that he is working closely with line ministries to ensure the upgrading of Serere Health Centre IV into a district hospital capable of handling major health cases within the community.
“Serere’s population is growing, and we need a fully equipped district hospital to cater for our people. I’m committed to seeing that this becomes a reality,” he added.
Hon. Okabe underscored education as a cornerstone of transformation and promised to lobby for the construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks, teachers’ houses, and science laboratories across the district.
“We must invest in our young people. Education gives them the foundation to compete nationally and globally. With my networks, I will ensure Serere benefits from more government programs targeting education improvement,” he said.
He further noted that the NRM’s vision of skilling the youth would be amplified through practical interventions that connect young people to job opportunities and entrepreneurship support.
The MP also hailed the success of Okabe Foundation SACCO, which has been supporting local savings and credit groups across the county.
He said the initiative has continued to grow and attract more members who are eager to improve their livelihoods.
“Our savings groups under Okabe Foundation are doing very well. They have not died, in fact, they are expanding. More groups are joining us, which shows that people believe in collective growth,” Okabe said.
He explained that through collaboration with the Parish Development Model (PDM), the foundation plans to reach more households and support them in accessing government funds for agricultural and income-generating projects.
“The President has been moving across the country promoting household income, and in Serere we are embracing that call. Our focus is to lift people from poverty to middle-income status by building agricultural and small-scale enterprise projects,” he stated.
In one of his strongest remarks of the day, Hon. Okabe vowed to use his upcoming term to root out corruption in Serere District Local Government, saying the vice had undermined the delivery of government services to the people.
“I know there has been misappropriation of money here and there, but I am determined to ensure that such practices are stopped. We shall take action where there’s evidence of corruption, and those responsible must be held accountable,” he warned.
He emphasized that the NRM does not condone corruption and that any official found guilty of embezzling funds meant for public programs such as PDM, Emyooga, or SACCOs should face justice.
“We must ensure that money goes to the right people, the farmers, the women, the youth, those who truly need it for development. This time we will not look away; we will follow up every coin,” he stressed.
Hon. Okabe praised the NRM for providing a stable foundation on which Uganda continues to build.
He said that under President Museveni’s guidance, the country has achieved remarkable progress in peace, infrastructure, and economic recovery.
“I am proud to stand with our President and our great party. We are here to promote his vision and to ensure that Serere continues to benefit from government programs,” he said.
As he concluded his remarks, Hon. Okabe thanked his supporters for standing with him and called for unity and peaceful campaigns ahead of the 2026 elections.
“Let’s remain peaceful, focused, and united as we protect our party’s achievements. Together, we can make Serere a model of transformation and accountability,” he said to loud cheers.
The nomination of Hon. Okabe sets the stage for a competitive race in Serere County, where voters are keenly watching how candidates address issues of service delivery, transparency, and inclusive development.
If re-elected, Okabe’s pledge to fight corruption and promote grassroots economic empowerment may become a central talking point in a district yearning for accountable leadership and sustainable progress.
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