As campaigns heat up ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections, candidates contesting the Pece-Laroo Division parliamentary seat in Gulu City insist they are not intimidated by the return of Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao.
Mao, who surprised many after being nominated as the DP candidate, made a quiet political return to local politics after years of focusing on national politics.
Despite his political stature as the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, eloquence, and decades of political experience, some of his rivals in the race insist that Mao’s return does not shake their confidence.
Tony Kitara, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Wednesday that he isn’t afraid of contesting with Mao in the same political race.
Kitara said that he will defeat Mao in the January 15, 2026, parliamentary polls due to his leadership experience.
He, however, alleged that he is angered by what he describes as Mao’s “blackmail”
Kitara warned against any back-room arrangements, saying if such a decision was to be made by the NRM that it candidate surrenders to the DP flag bearer, then it would be very unfortunate for the party.
While the DP hasn’t formed an official alliance with the NRM ruling party, the cooperation agreement signed between the two parties in 2022 is widely seen as a favourable condition for the ruling party’s support towards Mao’s parliamentary candidature.
He, however, noted that the two-time legislator in the then Gulu Municipality and later LCV Chairperson for Gulu District offers nothing new for the people of Laroo-Pece Division and Acholi, having had his opportunities in the past.
Caesar Lubangakene, an independent candidate who describes Mao as his political mentor, says his return to local politics is a betrayal of youth empowerment by the elderly in both the local and national politics.
Lubangakene told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that the presence of seasoned politicians in political positions is a clear indicator that the old generation of leaders doesn’t see the youth as present leaders.
Lubangakene says the constant sidelining of youth voices and their participation in national politics is causing frustration among the youth, which he said has been the leading cause of unrest in neighbouring countries.
Both candidates who started their campaigns on Monday have outlined key programmes they intend to promote for the people of Laroo-Pece Constituency and the Acholi Subregion in general.
For instance, Kitara targets mindset changes of the populace, economic empowerment in households, and promotion of financial independence among entrepreneurs through an affordable loan scheme.
He revealed a new programme of empowering boda boda through a savings scheme where he will provide 24 million shillings a year for daily fuel to 1,600 boda boda riders to promote saving of shillings 1,000 for 40 riders in one stage. Through the scheme, Kitara anticipates the riders will have an annual saving of 576 million shillings.
Lubangakene is focusing on five key areas of improving access to primary health services through launching a mobile health clinic and the introduction of a community health insurance scheme for individuals already in the group.
Others are the expansion of the Gulu East table banking initiative for youth to encourage saving in groups with the desire to see it grow into a community microfinance, and empowering the community to become economically independent.
Mao has not yet launched an active campaign in the Laroo-Pece Division, and his team has given no firm dates for constituency events.
The race for the constituency has attracted five other candidates. They include incumbent and independent candidate Fr Charles Onen, UPC flag bearer Simon Opoka, Forum for Democratic Change candidate Geoffrey Komakech, Wilfred Opobo, and Edward Odong, all independent candidates.
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