Nezma Ocokoru: The Only Female Voice Sounding in Arua Central Division Race
Nezma Ocokoru while addressing journalists on Wednesday. Photo Credit Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA. Nezma Ocokoru of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party has declared intention to contest as the Arua Central Division Mayor in Arua City come 2026 general elections.
Nezma, who formerly served as the Arua Hill Division Mayor before the creation of Arua City, is among the few female politicians raising the voice of women higher in the lower local government elective politics.
Nezma is expected to tussle it out with several male contestants after the incumbent Arua Central Division Mayor, Khemis Muzaid announced his intention to contest for the Central Division Parliamentary seat.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Nezma stated that she is ready to face off with the male contestants and promised to defeat all of them.
“First of all, the Constitution of Uganda gives me that mandate to contest with men because that is an open seat which is not a preserve for men alone, and you know we have also been striving for equality. As women, we have been left behind in so many things,” Nezma said.
She added that: “This position of Arua Central Division Mayor, I think should be a space where we must see women representation in leadership. For example, we have three local governments here; we have the City Council, we have Ayivu and Central Divisions but in these local government levels, we all have the political heads that are gentlemen. So, I’m coming to take up the position in the Central Division as a woman so as to fill that gap, and I can assure you that I’m very capable of defeating all the men who will come to contest with me.”
According to Nezma, the experience she got while serving as the Mayor of Arua Hill Division is quite enough to effectively lead the people of Arua Central Division.
She promised to use her expertise, if given the mandate, to amplify the voice of the women, the young people (youths) and the elderly people in Arua Central Division and empower them economically.
“This is the time I want to empower my people and let them know that their vote is beyond the soap, the sugar, the Shs1000 which some politicians give them. And it is only me, Nezma, who can bring the agenda of real service delivery and also raise the voice of the women in decision making in this city,” Nezma said.
She further noted that being the face of the city, Arua Central Division deserves a leader like her who can think of keeping the Division clean all time with a united population.
Nezma later consoled her supporters whom she said have been concerned about her silence.
She, however, said the silence was intentional because the law doesn’t permit her to display her posters before nomination.
“I want to assure my voters that I will be on the ballot paper in 2026 in Arua Central Division but because I’m a law-abiding citizen, I couldn’t display my posters before my nomination in September. In the meantime, I’m doing my ground work and I promise to reach out to all my supporters physically wherever they are,” Nezma promised.
When contacted, Asia Anakuru, a resident of Anyafio Central Cell, Mvara Ward in Arua Central Division expressed happiness about the news of Nezma’s coming, recalling that she formerly served them very well in Arua Hill Division.
“I’m very happy to hear that Nezma is contesting again, otherwise, her silence had kept us wondering about her next move. Most of us feared that she was considering contesting somewhere else, but now I feel so excited to hear that Nezma is coming as the Mayor of Arua Central Division because she previously served us well.
When our fellow woman contests in such an elective and competitive position, we feel very happy because she will be able to address our challenges since she experiences the same problems. My only request to Nezma is that after electing her in office, she should ensure that we benefit from the different government programs that come to Arua Central Division,” Anakuru appealed.