Teso journalists, under their umbrella body Teso Journalists for Economic Empowerment (TEJFOCE), on Thursday held the second edition of the Soroti City Woman MP Debate, attracting a large crowd of residents eager to hear the competing visions for the constituency ahead of the 2026 elections.
The public debate, organized by practicing journalists from across the Teso Sub-region, brought together aspirants vying for the Soroti City Woman MP seat to discuss key issues affecting their communities, including health, education, infrastructure, youth empowerment, service delivery, and governance.
Held just a week after the successful Soroti City Mayoral Debate—the first of its kind organized by journalists in Teso—Thursday’s event further cemented TEJFOCE’s commitment to promoting civic engagement, accountability, and issue-based politics.
Residents, including mothers, youth, and elders, turned out in large numbers to follow the arguments and promises presented by the aspirants. Organizers, spearheaded by Teso Vybes, described the turnout as a strong indication that voters are increasingly interested in informed decision-making, rather than being swayed by crowd politics or empty slogans.
According to Stephen Ojacor, one of the organizers behind the debate, the events are designed to provide a neutral platform where candidates can present clear policy alternatives, justify their manifestos, and respond to community concerns raised by voters.
“Our aim is to strengthen democracy in Teso by ensuring that leaders seeking office are questioned, tested, and understood by the people they hope to represent,” one organizer said. “These debates help voters assess credibility, competence, and preparedness.”
Candidates addressed a range of pressing issues, including delayed service delivery in Soroti City, growing youth unemployment, gaps in women’s economic empowerment, the need for improved maternal health services, and calls for better urban planning and infrastructure upgrades.
Debate moderators, all experienced journalists, ensured that each aspirant was given equal time to speak, challenge, and respond, fostering a vibrant and balanced exchange.
With more political debates planned in the coming weeks for various elective positions across Teso, TEJFOCE says its mission is to build a culture where leaders answer directly to the public, rather than campaigning solely through rallies.
As the election season intensifies, voters and stakeholders continue to applaud the journalists’ initiative as a milestone in promoting transparency, good governance, and issue-driven politics in the region.