President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the electorate in Adjumani West Constituency to consolidate regional development and vote for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, James Leku Pilli, in the upcoming parliamentary by-election.
Addressing thousands of supporters gathered at Paridi Stadium on the final day of official campaigns, President Museveni challenged residents to prioritize productive household enterprises, observing that wealth creation should not wait for tarmac roads.
The President emphasized that families can generate sustainable income even while broader public infrastructure remains under development, pointing out the vast commercial opportunities in expanding trade to regional markets such as South Sudan and Kenya.
President Museveni commended the NRM Electoral Commission for managing the primary elections and lauded former aspirant Hon. Ben Anyama for prioritizing party cohesion.
Anyama, who had initially registered to run as an independent candidate after a close primary race, voluntarily withdrew from the contest following consultative talks with President Museveni to unite behind Leku.
"I have been an NRM member since 1986 and chose to support Leku in the interest of party cohesion," Anyama stated, urging his campaign structures and voters across the constituency to turn out and vote for the NRM flag bearer.
During the rally, President Museveni received over 300 defectors from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who crossed over to the ruling party and pledged their support to Leku's bid.
Senior party officials accompanied the President, led by the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Northern Region, Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, and NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong.
Hon. Obua noted that Adjumani remains an NRM stronghold, recalling that President Museveni secured 84.75 percent of the district’s presidential vote in the previous election.
Obua highlighted that village-level consultative drives during the campaigns identified key community priorities, including the construction of the Laropi Bridge, upgrading Adjumani Town Council to municipality status, and rehabilitating the Senyangya–Adjumani road network.
Rt. Hon. Todwong commended the people of Adjumani for their political steadfastness, describing the by-election as an opportunity to reinforce unity and continuity following the passing of veteran legislator and former Second Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali.
The Adjumani West parliamentary by-election is slated for Thursday, September 17, 2026.
