Vice President Jessica Alupo has been officially nominated by the NRM Electoral Commission to contest in the party primaries for the Katakwi District Woman MP seat, a position she currently holds.
Alupo, who first secured the seat in the 2021 general elections, arrived at the party headquarters in Kampala to a rousing welcome from jubilant supporters who had gathered ahead of her arrival.
She was received by NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Tanga Odoi and the party’s Secretary General, Richard Todwong.
Alupo's nomination came earlier than the set nomination date. Odoi explained that Alupo had been granted special clearance due to official duties that will take her out of the country during the official nomination window.
Accompanied by her seconder, John Robert Okiril, Alupo presented her national ID and nomination papers, which were scrutinized before Odoi officially declared her nominated.
The Vice President’s early nomination underscores her continued political momentum in the region, as she seeks to retain her parliamentary seat on the NRM ticket while continuing to serve in the country’s second-highest office.
Alupo has held the dual role of Vice President and Katakwi Woman MP since 2021, when she was elevated to the vice presidency following her electoral victory.
Speaking shortly after her nomination, Alupo lauded the party’s internal electoral process as “very simple, short and transparent,” adding that, “I can see the fourth principle of democracy taking shape in this procedure.”
She congratulated the party for successfully rolling out nominations, saying, “I congratulate the NRM for registering candidates and I look forward to a very free and fair process of the internal party elections.”
Calling for civility among contenders, she urged fellow aspirants to maintain peace during the primaries.
“I call upon candidates who are going to participate to be very calm and peaceful during elections,” she said.
“I encourage them to popularize the achievements of the NRM during their campaigns so that Ugandans can be very conversant with what the government has done.”
Reflecting on her past electoral contests, Alupo noted that she has always welcomed competition in Katakwi. “I have always contested and had opponents—usually around five,” she said.
“I maintain relationships with them because it gives me an opportunity to listen to their views and promotes peace among the people in the area.”
She reaffirmed her belief in the NRM’s inclusive approach: “I trust and believe that NRM is a mass party. It has sustained its huge support across the country through accommodation.”
Alupo further called on the Electoral Commission to remain impartial, emphasizing, “I would like to request the NRM EC, which has issued the guidelines—let them do their part and ensure elections are free and fair.”
She added that the primaries should reflect the will of the people: “Let the candidates who are supported by people be the ones who are given the flag.”
Alupo concluded by affirming her commitment to the party’s rules: “I have read the guidelines, picked nomination forms, and returned them with a very big understanding of those guidelines. I would like to assure the EC that as a candidate I will adhere to the set guidelines.”
Her remarks set the tone for what she hopes will be an orderly and principled internal election season in Katakwi and across the country.