Speaker Among’s nomination kicks off Bukedea exercise

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Bukedea’s parliamentary nomination exercise got underway on a strong note, headlined by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, who formally submitted her nomination to the Electoral Commission.

Among who is seeking another term as Bukedea Woman MP was among the first candidates on Wednesday, October 22, to be cleared by district returning officer Joel Mugenyi at the Bukedea District Council Hall.

Also cleared on the opening day were David Beckham Okeere for Bukedea County and Patrick Opolot Isiagi for Kachumbala County, signalling an active start to the nomination process.

Mugenyi said the nomination exercise has so far proceeded peacefully, noting that campaigns have not yet officially started. He reminded candidates to wait for the official campaign period before holding rallies or processions.

So far, only three candidates have been nominated, with the exercise expected to continue tomorrow as more aspirants turn up.



Bukedea district is part of Uganda’s eastern region in the Teso sub-region. It was carved out of Kumi district and officially became operational in July 2007. The district contains multiple constituencies—Bukedea County, Kachumbala County, and the women’s district seat—alongside local government offices that feed into parliamentary representation.

Political landscape and recent elections

In the NRM primaries held in July 2025, David Beecham Okwere won the NRM flag for Bukedea County after securing 13,651 votes, defeating the incumbent.

For the district chair (LC5) by-election in June 2023, Mary Akol (NRM) was declared the winner with 79,692 votes, against 4,941 and 2,343 for her nearest rivals, amid allegations of malpractice.

On the district woman MP seat, Speaker Among (formerly independent, now NRM) was nominated unopposed as the NRM flag bearer in 2025 after her challenger was disqualified on residency grounds.

Key election issues and dynamics

Party dominance: The NRM maintains a strong presence in Bukedea, with top party figures such as Anita Among holding significant influence.

Competition from independents and opposition: While the NRM remains dominant, independents and opposition parties continue to seek openings. Okwere’s victory in the NRM primaries and the latest nomination developments underline this dynamic.

Electoral integrity concerns: Past elections, such as the 2023 LC5 by-election, were marred by allegations of ballot stuffing, intimidation, and security force involvement. These concerns may shape voter perceptions going forward.

Development and service delivery: Candidates often focus on infrastructure, water access, borehole rehabilitation, ICT, youth skilling, and economic empowerment as key voter concerns. For instance, Okwere has pledged to repair boreholes and launch youth skills projects.

Internal party contestation: The NRM flag selection process remains highly competitive. Winning the party flag is often the main hurdle, as losing aspirants frequently choose to run as independents after the primaries.

What to watch in the next cycle

-The emergence of strong challengers for parliamentary seats in Bukedea County, Kachumbala County, and the women’s district seat, particularly from independents and opposition parties.

- How internal divisions within the NRM may affect the party’s dominance.

- The conduct of elections, especially transparency and voter confidence, given past concerns over violence and malpractice.

- Whether voter priorities shift increasingly towards tangible service delivery and accountability rather than party loyalty.