Terego East favourite Babanga roots for unity, wealth creation

ARUA. The favoured Terego East Constituency parliamentary candidate, Wilfred Erima Babanga, has pledged to unite the people of Terego District if given the mandate to represent them in the 12th Parliament of Uganda.

Babanga has also promised to lobby for government projects that will enable his constituents to create wealth and alleviate household poverty.

He made the remarks on Monday, November 3, 2025, while addressing the media on the state of political affairs in Terego East ahead of the official launch of parliamentary campaigns on November 10, 2025.

Babanga is the official National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flagbearer for Terego East, having secured a resounding victory against the incumbent MP and State Minister for Urban Development, Mario Obiga Kania, in the NRM primary elections held in July this year.

Babanga polled 11,422 votes against Kania’s 7,700, winning in all three sub-counties of Odupi, Oriama and Omugo. 

Kania, however, contested the result by petitioning the NRM party’s election tribunal. After a hearing, the tribunal ruled against Kania and upheld Babanga’s victory. 

Despite serving as the NRM district chairperson for Terego, the minister proceeded to contest as an Independent candidate. Kania’s decision subsequently led the party to strip him of his roles in the district for defying NRM principles.

But while addressing the media, Babanga said he is willing to extend a hand of reconciliation to Kania and his team to build Terego together.

“I stand for the unity of the people of Terego. Even those like the incumbent (Kania) who competed with me, I’m willing and able to extend a hand across the aisle so that we can together build Terego,” Babanga promised.

He intends to use available cultural structures, including the Lugbara Cultural Institution (Lugbara Kari) and eminent personalities in Terego, to broker dispute resolution and achieve the unity he seeks.

“Second, my manifesto stands on the pillar of wealth creation. Wealth creation is advocated by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni for household income. So, I’m going to work with the communities to ensure that there is money put in people’s pockets,” Babanga said.

He also promised to continue supporting the community through his charity organisation, the Babanga Foundation.

He said people have needs; water, health and education, among others, and that through the foundation, established 10 years ago, he will continue to support his people.

So far, more than 100 children in Terego District have received bursaries for primary schooling.

“This is the candidate that I’m offering to the people of Terego. My campaign is going to be issue-based and policy-based. This is the candidate that Terego has been waiting for!” Babanga emphasised.

He, however, warned his opponents to desist from confusing voters by claiming to be the true NRM candidates in an attempt to discredit his candidature.

“There are people masquerading in Terego East as the real candidates, perhaps because of the length of time they have been in the party, but I want to tell the people of Terego that the rightful NRM flag bearer for Terego East Constituency is Babanga Wilfred Erima.”

“I offer him to you here. He is a development specialist and, through his years of experience, he expects to help in the transformation of Terego and restore it to its former glory. Those masquerading are on the wrong side of history; they are confusing our people. I want to tell them to stop!” Babanga further warned.