Vice President Jessica Alupo has been officially declared unopposed for the Katakwi District Woman Member of Parliament seat following the withdrawal of her only challenger, Anuken Angela.
The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon by the Katakwi District Returning Officer, Stephen Makubuya, during a brief ceremony at the district Electoral Commission offices.
Makubuya confirmed that Angela formally withdrew her candidacy in writing, in line with Section 36 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which allows a nominated candidate to withdraw before polling day.
Citing Section 37 of the same Act, Makubuya declared Alupo duly elected, noting that the law permits the returning officer to declare a candidate unopposed when all other contenders withdraw.
Following the declaration, Alupo expressed gratitude to the Electoral Commission, government, and NRM leadership for what she described as a transparent and lawful process. She also commended fellow female candidates for exhibiting political maturity and unity.
“I thank all my sisters I have competed with in this and previous elections for always showing political maturity and unity,” Alupo said. “This spirit allows us to work together for the good of our people.”
Alupo reaffirmed her commitment to service delivery in Katakwi District, pledging to prioritize peace and security, education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and wealth creation. She highlighted government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, women and youth funds, disability grants, and other NRM-supported programmes aimed at improving household incomes.
“These programmes ensure that every Ugandan can participate in wealth creation, and the people of Katakwi will not be left behind,” Alupo said. She encouraged residents to embrace a mindset of hard work and productivity, stressing that sustainable development depends on active citizen participation.
The Vice President was joined by NRM National Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, Calvin Echodu, and other party leaders and supporters, who congratulated her on the unopposed victory and praised her leadership in the Teso sub-region.
With the declaration, Alupo retains her position as Katakwi District Woman MP and continues her political journey under the NRM banner.
