Who will take Padyere MP seat?
Apr 14, 2010
Located on a very busy route from Arua, Nebbi town, in Nebbi district, is quiet, save for the hum of heavy vehicles in the centre of the town. At the moment, however, this quietness is no more.
By Joshua Kato and Frank Mugabi
Located on a very busy route from Arua, Nebbi town, in Nebbi district, is quiet, save for the hum of heavy vehicles in the centre of the town. At the moment, however, this quietness is no more.
There is daily dancing and singing as contestants for the Padyere County parliamentary seat move round the town canvassing for votes. The seat fell vacant in February this year, when area MP David Ringe-Chan died. The byelection is slated for April 20.
“Nebbi town council has 15,800 voters. Whoever wins in the town, wins the race,†says Omar Nyatibo, a resident of Nebbi town. On March 25 and 26, five people were nominated to contest for the seat — Dr. Pascal Odoch (NRM), Marious Okwir-Amula (FDC), Joshua Carter Anywarach, Kizito Ngabirombo (independent) and Charles Ulangi Mba (UPC). But the main battle is between the NRM, FDC and UPC candidates.
This is a contest of both issues and personalities. The NRM wants to regain its seat, while UPC wants to retain it since the late MP belonged to the party. FDC simply wants to make another milestone in the West Nile region.
For many years, NRM’s Okumu Ringa held the seat, but lost it to UPC’s David Ringe-Chan in 2006. He tried to make a come-back in this byelection, but was defeated by Odoch during the party primaries.
The campaigns have already drawn in some of the top politicians in the country, including the NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, who campaigned for Odoch.
The issues
Most of the people in Padyere County are small-scale farmers. They say they need investors to help add value to their produce so that they earn more money.
“We need leaders who can tell the Government to find us markets for our produce,†says Eunice Abedeginn. There are also many poor roads in the area. And as usual, the candidates have promised to fix them.
Education is Nebbi is poor, with some areas recording a 99% drop-out rate between Primary One and seven. Some candidates have promised to improve the education system, while others have pledged a complete overhaul. Below are the contestants:
Kizito Ngabirombo
He is contesting as an independent. He, however, has connections with the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) of Betty Kamya, which explains his choice of a giraffe as his electoral symbol. He mooted the cooperation with UFA after falling out with the FDC over the disputed primary elections that Amula won. Kizito is one of the Radio Paidha historicals, but later moved on to Radio Pacis, where he is currently stationed.
Dr. Pascal Odoch
The official NRM flag bearer hails from Mbaro Akworo village in Padyere County. The third-born in a family of 10, Odoch holds a PhD in community economic development. He started his education at Nyaravur Primary School in Nebbi district, after which he joined St. Aloysius College, Nyapea for O’level. He then went to Busoga College Mwiri for A’level after which he joined Makerere University, where he graduated with a BA social sciences in 1986.
After school, he worked for the Uganda Public Service and Cabinet Affairs, then pursued a post-graduate diploma in community economic development at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada. Later, he did a masters and PhD at the University of British Columbia, Canada in 1999. Upon his return from Canada in 2002, Odoch served as Alur kingdom spokesperson and minister of economic planning and rural development until 2008.
Today, Odoch is the director of the National Enterprises Corporation, the commercial arm of the Ministry of Defence. In November 2008, he was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni the head of the five-member board of the National Planning Authority.
Odoch’s has made several contributions to his community. He launched the Nebbi community website, mobilised scholarships for university students in the area, started an employment scheme and Nebbi Community Savings and Cooperatives at zonal level. He also helped establish a hospital in the area.
Odoch has promised to promote food security, introduce scholarships to students and create employment opportunities.
Marious Okwir-Amula
He is the FDC flag bearer. A professional paramedic and educationist, Okwir-Amula has proved to be a dependable community leader. He served in the medical field for 14 years before joining politics. He worked as the district councillor for Akworo sub-county from 1998 to 2006, before being elected the vice-chairman of the district. At several campaign rallies, the public recognised his work on bridges, health centres, feeder roads, boreholes and schools during his tenure as district vice-chairman.
However, Amula turned heads in 2006 when he abandoned his party, the NRM and contested as an independent for the Padyere parliamentary seat. Thereafter, Amula joined the FDC.
Joshua Anywarach Carter
At 30, Anywarach is the youngest contestant. Born at Padolo central village in Erussi sub-county, Anywarach is a first year student of law at the Uganda Christian University Mukono. He is also the current Nebbi district male youth councillor.
Charles Ulangi Mba
The UPC flag bearer is having a second shot at a position he has always eyed. In 2006, he wanted to contest, but he was defeated in the UPC primaries by Ringe-Chan. Ulangi has, for long, been a feeder roads inspector with the Nebbi district local government.
Located on a very busy route from Arua, Nebbi town, in Nebbi district, is quiet, save for the hum of heavy vehicles in the centre of the town. At the moment, however, this quietness is no more.
There is daily dancing and singing as contestants for the Padyere County parliamentary seat move round the town canvassing for votes. The seat fell vacant in February this year, when area MP David Ringe-Chan died. The byelection is slated for April 20.
“Nebbi town council has 15,800 voters. Whoever wins in the town, wins the race,†says Omar Nyatibo, a resident of Nebbi town. On March 25 and 26, five people were nominated to contest for the seat — Dr. Pascal Odoch (NRM), Marious Okwir-Amula (FDC), Joshua Carter Anywarach, Kizito Ngabirombo (independent) and Charles Ulangi Mba (UPC). But the main battle is between the NRM, FDC and UPC candidates.
This is a contest of both issues and personalities. The NRM wants to regain its seat, while UPC wants to retain it since the late MP belonged to the party. FDC simply wants to make another milestone in the West Nile region.
For many years, NRM’s Okumu Ringa held the seat, but lost it to UPC’s David Ringe-Chan in 2006. He tried to make a come-back in this byelection, but was defeated by Odoch during the party primaries.
The campaigns have already drawn in some of the top politicians in the country, including the NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, who campaigned for Odoch.
The issues
Most of the people in Padyere County are small-scale farmers. They say they need investors to help add value to their produce so that they earn more money.
“We need leaders who can tell the Government to find us markets for our produce,†says Eunice Abedeginn. There are also many poor roads in the area. And as usual, the candidates have promised to fix them.
Education is Nebbi is poor, with some areas recording a 99% drop-out rate between Primary One and seven. Some candidates have promised to improve the education system, while others have pledged a complete overhaul. Below are the contestants:
Kizito Ngabirombo
He is contesting as an independent. He, however, has connections with the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) of Betty Kamya, which explains his choice of a giraffe as his electoral symbol. He mooted the cooperation with UFA after falling out with the FDC over the disputed primary elections that Amula won. Kizito is one of the Radio Paidha historicals, but later moved on to Radio Pacis, where he is currently stationed.
Dr. Pascal Odoch
The official NRM flag bearer hails from Mbaro Akworo village in Padyere County. The third-born in a family of 10, Odoch holds a PhD in community economic development. He started his education at Nyaravur Primary School in Nebbi district, after which he joined St. Aloysius College, Nyapea for O’level. He then went to Busoga College Mwiri for A’level after which he joined Makerere University, where he graduated with a BA social sciences in 1986.
After school, he worked for the Uganda Public Service and Cabinet Affairs, then pursued a post-graduate diploma in community economic development at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada. Later, he did a masters and PhD at the University of British Columbia, Canada in 1999. Upon his return from Canada in 2002, Odoch served as Alur kingdom spokesperson and minister of economic planning and rural development until 2008.
Today, Odoch is the director of the National Enterprises Corporation, the commercial arm of the Ministry of Defence. In November 2008, he was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni the head of the five-member board of the National Planning Authority.
Odoch’s has made several contributions to his community. He launched the Nebbi community website, mobilised scholarships for university students in the area, started an employment scheme and Nebbi Community Savings and Cooperatives at zonal level. He also helped establish a hospital in the area.
Odoch has promised to promote food security, introduce scholarships to students and create employment opportunities.
Marious Okwir-Amula
He is the FDC flag bearer. A professional paramedic and educationist, Okwir-Amula has proved to be a dependable community leader. He served in the medical field for 14 years before joining politics. He worked as the district councillor for Akworo sub-county from 1998 to 2006, before being elected the vice-chairman of the district. At several campaign rallies, the public recognised his work on bridges, health centres, feeder roads, boreholes and schools during his tenure as district vice-chairman.
However, Amula turned heads in 2006 when he abandoned his party, the NRM and contested as an independent for the Padyere parliamentary seat. Thereafter, Amula joined the FDC.
Joshua Anywarach Carter
At 30, Anywarach is the youngest contestant. Born at Padolo central village in Erussi sub-county, Anywarach is a first year student of law at the Uganda Christian University Mukono. He is also the current Nebbi district male youth councillor.
Charles Ulangi Mba
The UPC flag bearer is having a second shot at a position he has always eyed. In 2006, he wanted to contest, but he was defeated in the UPC primaries by Ringe-Chan. Ulangi has, for long, been a feeder roads inspector with the Nebbi district local government.