RUNNING FOR PARLIAMENT; MY OWN STORY AND STRENGTHENING THE NRM VOICE
A month has passed since I declared my intention to run for a seat to represent Older Persons (Eastern Region) in the 12th Parliament slated for 2026-2031, and the haggling with voters starting at the very bottom in Mulanda-Ayago village has been refreshing, if not daunting. Out of political discipline and courtesy, I had to consult directly, in a face-to-face, with President Yoweri Museveni, my appointing for the last quarter of a century, and then other senior colleagues. And I have to state, none disagreed with the decision for which am grateful as it reflects a broad support for my new journey. To the uninitiated, Older Persons in Uganda refers to people of 60 years and above, and in my case, Eastern Uganda stretches from the banks of river Nile in Jinja and bordering the plains of Karamoja, thus comprising the forty districts in Busoga, Bukedi, Bugisu, Sebei and Teso sub-regions. From Mulanda-Ayago I have had to get elected by NRM registered members to the parish, sub-county, and into the Tororo NRM Older Persons league to qualify as a member of the region electoral college for the MP flag-bearer. On the ground in Tororo, one feels pulpable support, and even unanimous consensus. Most certainly, by the time you read this column, I would have been elected to the district team. This race is more like a chess-game that I must now play in the forty districts up to February 2026 to win the MP seat. For some reason, my announcement seemed to have taken many, including my supposed friends and political colleagues by surprise, but well, that is how it ought to be. No singing your future plans to every Tom, Dick, Harry and Jerry. In any case, they rarely, if at all, keep their own plans with you. But for a fact, after 39 years, since 1986, as an NRM cadre, ideologue, and work-horse, I came to the conclusion that I needed, something politically more challenging than assignments by presidential appointments, although they have been rewarding as they put me much closer to the real corridors of hot power. As Spokesperson for the Movement Secretariat, President Yoweri Museveni and NRM election Taskforces, publicist for the NRM party, and Government for a combined and unbroken twenty-five years since 2000, man, one needs a new tour of duty. I could have gone to go rear ducks, grow coffee and beans, but on second consideration, very close friends said some tasks still remain undone. Now with loud parrots, and empty opposition political vessels, drumming even noisily, perhaps dangerously too, a parliamentary seat, especially as an NRM backbencher, there is certainly going to be a toast, to toss. Many, including from the few charitable opposition leaders and activists have publicly admitted that I would be a worthy opponent to face on that parliament floor. I will, when elected, certainly strengthen the NRM voice, where it matters most today and in the future. For the Older Persons, my direct constituency, it would be prudent to send a little younger minds, bodies, voice and legs that can still vigorously advocate, successfully follow up, and raise alternative policy platforms of the issues that matter most to this dwindling generation. In my view, issues of immediate concern include health insurance, adequate and flexible pension and social security benefits adjusted to inflation rates, discounted utility bills, and food-stamps for the most vulnerable especially those living rural and peri-urban single lives. Some of these policy issues will need to be included in the forthcoming NRM election manifesto. And of course there are the perennially thorny issues of delayed, diverted, or often stolen benefits meant for older persons. Looking at my long career in security, ideological mentorship, journalism and media, I count myself an allrounder capable of making a good legislator.
By Ofwono Opondo
