Local government council 2026 elections nominations attract new blood in Arua city

ARUA - The nomination of candidates for various positions in Arua city has attracted a new generation of contenders.

Notable among the candidates successfully nominated by the end of the exercise on Friday, September 5, 2025, include former Makerere University Guild president Lawrence Alionzi aka Dangote of the National Resistance Movement party, Ceaser Trinity Draecabo (Independent), Natasha Moseka of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and a one Emmanuel Akuyo for the position of councillor in Ayivu West-Arua city.

Most of the aspirants have pledged to fight unchecked corruption, discrepancies in economic opportunities, and to cause effective development in Arua city once voted into power.

Alionzi, whose slogan is "Cleaning Arua City”, says he wants to cause development and effective service delivery for the communities.

“Before a wise woman starts cooking, she first cleans the kitchen. So, we intend to clean the local government system in Arua City, and once the cleaning is done, we will have the moral authority to do more than the government budget to ensure effective service delivery to people of Arua city,” Alionzi said on Friday.

Draecabo says he aspires to fight nepotism in service delivery among citizens of Arua city: “I will stand strong and ensure that people in Arua city get access to government services and opportunities should neither be tagged to party colours nor tribe. That ended yesterday. Whoever is in this city deserves access to quality services and opportunities that are available."

Moseka, who is vying for the position of female councillor Central Division of the city council, says she will wipe out corruption and ensure that the people in Arua city equitably benefit from services.

“Our mothers are dying in labour, beds and drugs are not enough, so when I go to council, I will ensure that the money allocated for health must be for health, the budget for roads must be for roads, and i will not entertain corruption that presents itself in diversion of funds just like our current leaders have been doing,” Mokesa said.

Natasha Moseka (C) and her team during the nomination. (Credit: Prossy Nankanja)

48 nominated

Meanwhile, Arua city Electoral Commission returning officer Osman Ezale confirmed nominating 48 candidates by the close of business on Friday.

“We have completed our local government nominations; we have nominated a total of 48 candidates, and four candidates were declared unopposed since they didn’t have an opponent,” Ezale confirmed.

He further revealed that one candidate for the mayoral position was not nominated due to uncertified papers by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

“We were unable to nominate one candidate called Simon Enatu because the certificate he presented is not equivalent to A'level. Besides it's a certificate which should have been equated by the NCHE,but the candidate presented those documents without that certificate from National Council of Higher Education,” he added.

According to regional elections administrator West Nile, Juma Shesha Adam, the Local Government Act section 123 clause 3; stipulates that a person shall not qualify as a chairperson for a city unless s/he is a citizen and a resident of the district or city and registered as a voter; also, must have completed a minimum education level of advanced level standard or its equivalent.