Lira City Mayor Atul declares 2026 reelection bid

By Joseph Okul

Lira City | The incumbent Mayor of Lira City Council Sam Atul, has officially declared his intention to seek re-election in the upcoming 2026 general elections.

He said on Tuesday that this decision was reached after a thorough consultation with stakeholders who believe he needs to supplement the already established development during his five year tenure as the mayor.

Atul, who has led Lira since it attained city status in 2020 before its official operation from 2021, said his decision follows nearly 80% of local opinion leaders urging him to return for a second term.

“I have unfinished business. We laid a solid foundation, and I believe I am the right person to steer Lira City into its next phase of development,” Atul told the media.

He cautioned fellow aspirants against political manipulation of voters, urging them instead to align their manifestos with Lira City Council’s existing five-year development plan.

Despite facing criticism during his tenure, Atul has remained focused on infrastructure and service delivery.

Recently, the city acquired a new grader acquired basically from finances generated locally with the vision of resolving road crisis. Other equipment like a roller and water boozer were already in the city council plan and both have been bought.

Minister Raphael Magezi, who officiated the grader handover, commended Atul for his leadership, noting that continuity in leadership is vital for completing ongoing city projects.

However, he warned Atul that a shift in focus such as contesting for a parliamentary seat could stall development efforts.

Atul’s declaration also quashes earlier speculation that he had planned to run for Member of Parliament in Lira City West Division.

“My commitment remains with the people of Lira City. I want to complete the work we started and accomplish the newly designed Lira City development plan IV,” he affirmed.

According to Atul, the Lira City Development Plan IV designed inline with the National Development Plan IV, encompasses establishing a 15 km long tarmac of the city roads, a modern bus terminal, a five km draining master plan, a well designed physical plan, well distributed national water coverage across the city among others.

As the political landscape begins to take shape, more contenders are emerging. Romano Okello and Mike Ogwal Olwa Veve of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) while Morris Chris Ongom and Henry Opio Ogenyi under the National Resistance Movement party (NRM).

It, however, remains to be seen whether Sam Atul shall contest under any political party flag after successfully going through independently in the previous election.

With more candidates likely to join, the contest for Lira City’s top seat is expected to be one of the most closely watched political battles in Lira City.