Opposition Acholi politicians form coalition against NRM
Opposition leaders allege that NUP supporters and business owners perceived to sympathise with the opposition were deliberately targeted, heightening political and ethnic tensions in the region.
Issac Olara, the FDC MP candidate for Omoro county speaking during the launch of the opposition coalition in Gulu city. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)
__________________
GULU CITY - Opposition political parties in the Acholi region have formed a coalition to jointly oppose candidates of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the 2026 General Election.
The coalition comes after violence broke out on December 6, 2025, during a campaign event for National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
Opposition leaders allege that NUP supporters and business owners perceived to sympathise with the opposition were deliberately targeted, heightening political and ethnic tensions in the region.
The Opposition coalition held its inaugural meeting on December 14 at the residence of former Gulu Municipality Member of Parliament Christopher Acire in Gulu city.
The group has set its sights on unseating key NRM figures, particularly Bardege-Layibi Division MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi.
Ojara has been accused by Opposition figures of orchestrating the violence, allegations he has strongly denied.
Acire, who is leading the coalition effort, said the initiative was prompted by what he described as the mistreatment and intimidation during the NUP rally.
He alleged that looting and violence were carried out by individuals linked to the NRM and accused Ojara of deploying hired groups to disrupt the opposition campaign.
Acire cited Ojara’s previous parliamentary motion to remove Francis Zake as a commissioner as evidence of what he described as long-standing hostility toward the Opposition.
“This coalition is about unity,” Acire said.
“We want to avoid splitting the Opposition vote and ensure that when we face strong NRM candidates, we rally behind a single contender.”
Printing of T-shirts
As part of its mobilisation strategy, the coalition plans to print over 20,000 T-shirts bearing the slogan “Acholi pe obol kwir ki Bus” (“Acholi don’t vote for the Buss [NRM]”) and conduct grassroots engagements to persuade voters to reject NRM candidates.
Several Opposition leaders welcomed the move, including NUP flag-bearer for the Agago County MP seat, Winnie Okidi, who described the coalition as timely and called for broader consultations to strengthen coordination.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag-bearer for the Omoro County MP seat, Isaac Olara, condemned the violence against NUP supporters and expressed hope that a united Opposition could reverse what he described as years of underdevelopment under NRM representation.
Lyandro Komakech, the Democratic Party (DP) candidate for the Bardege-Layibi MP seat, vowed to block Ojara’s re-election, accusing him of collaborating with those behind the December 6 violence.
Simon Opoka (Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) flag-bearer for Laroo-Pece) said the coalition comes at a critical moment for Acholi, calling for the election of leaders committed to a pro-Acholi agenda.
Joint statement plans
The coalition also announced plans to issue a joint statement to the people of Buganda over the violence that affected Bobi Wine’s supporters, whom they referred to as “their son.” They further intend to invite Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga to Acholi to receive apologies from the community formally.
I cannot be held responsible
Ojara, in a separate statement, confirmed that he met bodaboda riders on the day of Bobi Wine’s rally but said the meeting was held at St Monica Girls’ Tailoring School to distribute President Museveni's campaign T-shirts and helmets.
He said he could not be held responsible for any actions taken by the riders afterwards.
Acholi cultural and religious leaders have urged the Government to investigate the Gulu violence, warning that failure to hold perpetrators accountable could further erode support for the NRM in the region.
Rosalba Oywa, an Acholi opinion leader, said the attacks had intensified tensions between Acholi and Buganda, noting that shops owned by people from Buganda were specifically targeted.
She noted that Bobi Wine’s campaign in East Acholi passed peacefully, but unrest followed his move to West Acholi.
Ferried into Gulu
Maj. Gen. Busizoori, the Commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces, denied deploying soldiers to intimidate residents, saying intelligence reports indicated that criminal elements had been ferried into Gulu to cause unrest.
He urged politicians to campaign peacefully and assured residents that the army would protect civilians in the event of further violence.