ARUA CITY: Ex-Minister Bakoko Warns Against Voting for Independent, Opposition Candidates

ARUA. The former Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Zoe Bakoko Bakoru has urged voters in Arua City to reject independent and opposition candidates in the 2026 general elections.

Bakoko, who is also the Arua City NRM Chairperson, made the appeal during the first rally organised by Atima Jackson Lee Buti, the incumbent Arua Central Division MP and official NRM flag-bearer.

The rally at Awindiri Primary School playground drew hundreds of enthusiastic locals from Awindiri South Cell in Arua Central Division.

In her remarks, Bakoko called on the residents to support President Museveni, MP Atima and all other NRM flag-bearers in Arua City.

She urged voters in Arua Central Division to shun independent and opposition candidates, insisting they should instead back MP Atima, who can work directly with President Museveni to secure development programmes for the area.

Atima, the NRM flag-bearer, is seeking to retain his seat for the first time in the history of Arua Central Division, formerly Arua Municipality.

The incumbent faces independent candidates Hadad Salim and Ronald Debo, as well as opposition contenders including Khemis Muzaid of FDC, Kassiano Wadri of ANT and Jackson Obindu of NUP, among others.

All parliamentary candidates across the country, including those in Arua Central Division, officially launched their campaigns at various venues on Monday, November 10, 2025.

At Atima’s rally, however, Bakoko stressed that the people of Arua City’s only hope lies in electing NRM flag-bearers, not independents or opposition candidates.

“I’m confident all of you will vote for President Museveni. To secure the development projects we need such as upgrading Arua Airfield into an international airport, completing road networks, and extending electricity and water to rural homes, we must send Atima Jackson Lee Buti to Parliament along with all other NRM flag-bearers in Arua City, not independents or opposition candidates,” Bakoko said.

“Let us send our flag-bearer Atima to work with President Museveni. I urge all his opponents to step down in his favour so that we can achieve the development we want in Arua Central Division,” she added.

Bakoko also warned against the politics of bloodshed in Arua City, calling on people to exercise their civic rights without attacking, beating or killing one another during the campaign period.

Atima, who was out of Arua on official duties, was represented by his chief campaign manager, Ahumed Miria, and his wife, Rose Atima Ayaka, the former Maracha District Woman MP.

Miria highlighted several of Atima’s achievements over the past four years in Parliament, including effective representation in the August House, support for various religious institutions, skills training programmes, purchase of a minibus to ease transport for constituency members, and scholarships for youths in different fields within and outside Arua City. These, he said, were reasons for voters to return him to Parliament for further benefits.

In her remarks, Ayaka thanked the people of Arua Central Division for their love and trust in her husband.

She expressed confidence that, without doubt, voters would re-elect Atima for the good work he has done in the division.

Dickson Adomati, the Arua Central Division NRM Publicity Secretary, used the occasion to welcome back Atima’s supporters who had defected to other camps.

Adomati described the return of over 100 key NRM mobilisers as a positive decision and a clear sign of victory for Atima in January next year.

After the successful rally in Awindiri South, Atima’s team proceeded to address another rally in Nsambya North cell in Awindiri Ward.