“Gulu City is awash with opposition political marriage, as Forum for Democratic Change, (FDC), embraced Uganda People Congress (UPC), party candidate for Laroo-Pece Gulu East Division.”
63 years ago, Kabaka Yeka Party made the alliance with Uganda People’s Congress party, are witnessing the same historical event.
GULU CITY-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2025.
By Okumu Livingstone Langol, Our Correspondent
The decision by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), to rally behind Simon Opoka for Laroo-Pece, Gulu East City Division seat marks a bold and calculated political statement.
Facing Norbert Mao, a veteran politician now backed by the National Resistance Movement ruling establishment, the opposition’s endorsement is less about personalities and more about reclaiming political ground in a region regarded as an opposition stronghold
“By uniting behind Opoka, FDC and UPC are drawing a clear line, challenging what they view as the ruling party’s encroachment into Gulu’s political space and signaling resistance to elite realignments that blur the line between opposition and power, the contest is shaping up”
Simon Opoka, the aspirant candidate under UPC party ticket, on Friday 19, December, 2025. During the press conference at Golden Peace Hotel, two-kilometers outskirt of Gulu City, told the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) THAT PRESIDENT Museveni’s candidate talked to Gen. Charles Otema Awany to stop me contesting.
“It is a radicular to Norbert Mao who is custodian of rule of law in Acholi, it’s not Robert Mao and Gen. Otema Awany can buy me.” Opoka warns.
Added, such a person who has been a minister for 3 years, failed to give me a job can says he was the one who feed me, Nobert Mao has never consulted me for legal practice in Laroo-Pece City Division, since May, 2025 he has never phone me since I saved him from Democratic Party (DP), race. Norbert Mao can sell any people in Uganda, democracy has taken news twice. When you sweet talked Caesar Lubangakene out, not to contest for Laroo-Pece East Division seat. I know who has potential to win, who stood in the last election in 2021, he promised to provide mobile clinics to poor people of Laroo-Pece Division. The man has even come with a Mobile Clinic.
The chief buyer in Acholi is Norbert Mao, I am ashamed people look at me, I am child of the family of Acori, my mother was a police officer, who was killed in 1985, in Karamoja sub region as she was fleeing from Kampala during Gen. Okello Tito take over the government of Dr. Apollo Milton Obote II regime.
“Mao does not dumped me, the DP strategic plan, I was the architecture, I am happy that FDC and UPC have formed the alliance, because Acholi need someone who can present their agenda on the floor of parliament, I am Opoka, is the right candidate, and also I am happy that combines opposition stood strong behind me, I am the one who dumped him”
I was near the man because of the order of Mathia Secretary General of DP, I though is time up working for political conjola , I am just line myself there is no any man, I am sorry for him Mao, it’s an issues of Uganda, if your leader loses vision, even King David followed King Soul although he was anointed by God before his reign come, May be I am David.
Oyat Sagga, FDC party General Secretary for Gulu City The dilemma between FDC and UPC, yesterday I was summoned by Hon Achire Christopher, the former Gulu Municipality MP, Hon Achire the question now our candidate for FDC, has defected to the ruling NRM establishment, and we have not option, FDC has endorsed Simon Opoka for the opposition seat in Gulu City Laroo-Pece.
“We shall work together for the last five years to represent the interest of the opposition, we have monitor the track record of Simon Opoka for the last 20 years, Laroo-Pece is stronghold of FDC we have seen the race about inter party democracy, we have over 50, 000 voters in Laroo-Pece Division, I know in the last election 2021, only 18% of people turned up for voting, and Norbert Mao lost seriously because he stood for presidential presidency.
The question of Gen. Muhoozi Kanierogaba and the Electoral Commissioner, who says people should go back to their home, after voting is a misplaced statement. Gen. Muhoozi is still growing to go back to UPDF, he should learn from the Mohamad Gadhafi sons, president of Libya and Sadam Hussein sons.
“I would ask him to stay himself out of conflict. UPDF is not an army of conscript, but a Valentia, you are dealing with thugs of soldiers, it’s a very cheap statement, I don’t think the CDF is careless to say vote and go home, an insult to the voters.”
Amos Ochen, UPC chairman for Gulu City, while answering questions during the press briefing, confirmed the FDC and UPC alliance to back up, candidature of Simon Opoka for Laroo-Pece Division.
“Is not an accidence, the UPC view it as credible and the interest of UPC government has been voting without violence and intimidation Simon Opoka has come to restore hope in Acholi, UPC know that you go with people’s agenda, I know as human being we know there has been weakness, as UPC, we know we have a candidate.”
Norbert Mao, confirmed during NBS Television talk shows on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Bomah Hotel in Gulu, that his coming to contest as Member of Parliament for Laroo-Pece Division, was not his decision, but the DP party decision.
“With Me, when time came for who should stand for Laroo-Pece MP seat, it was the decision of the party not mine, so I don’t have personal vendetta with Simon Opoka.”
