By Derick Omoding
In what many have described as a “miraculous day” in the political history of Teso, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s campaign rally in Katakwi District has achieved what seemed impossible for years, uniting the region’s top political leaders who have long been divided by bitter rivalries.
The rally, held at Katakwi Boma Grounds, drew thousands of enthusiastic supporters from across the sub-region who witnessed a rare public show of unity among Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Rose Alupo, the State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang, and Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among.
The three influential figures, once separated by political rifts and rivalry, stood shoulder to shoulder to welcome President Museveni, sending a strong message of reconciliation and collective commitment to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) cause.
For nearly a decade, Katakwi and the wider Teso sub-region have been haunted by internal divisions among their leaders. The once cordial political relationship between Vice President Alupo and Minister Ogwang soured during the 2016 general elections when Alupo lost her Katakwi Woman MP seat to Violet Akurut. Alupo’s supporters blamed Ogwang for backing her opponent, creating deep cracks within the NRM structures in the district. The divisions spilled beyond Katakwi, infiltrating regional politics and even echoing in corridors of power in Kampala.
Similarly, another silent yet tense standoff between Speaker Anita Among and Vice President Alupo had been simmering, creating competing camps that many analysts feared could undermine the NRM’s strength in Teso. But President Museveni’s arrival on Friday changed the political tone.
Speaking at the rally, Vice President Alupo declared that the leaders had buried their differences in the interest of unity and development.
“As key leaders in the region, we have chosen to dissolve our differences that the populace felt are their and focus on the future of our party and the vision of President Museveni,” Alupo said. “Unity is the foundation for sustainable mobilization and transformation in Teso.”
Minister Ogwang echoed the same message, calling for teamwork among all leaders to deliver a resounding victory for the NRM.
“Our focus is no longer on who was right or wrong in the past. What matters now is service delivery, peace, and progress under President Museveni’s leadership,” he emphasized.
The NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda, David Calvin Ecodu, hailed the development as the fruit of consistent reconciliation efforts.
“Reaching this level has not been easy,” Ecodu said. “It has taken continuous engagement, forgiveness, and commitment to unity. As a new leader in the region, my top priority has been to reconcile our leaders and build a strong, united Teso under the NRM.”
Political observers have described the event as a turning point for Teso’s politics. With President Museveni’s rally serving as the stage for reconciliation, many believe that the newfound unity could rejuvenate NRM’s support base and restore public confidence in regional leadership.
As the sun set over Katakwi Boma Grounds, chants of “Teso United for Museveni” filled the air, a powerful symbol of hope that, after years of division, Teso’s leaders are finally walking the same path once again.