Kikuube vice chairman Opio Vicent withdraws from LC5 by-election race

Kikuube district vice chairman Opio Vicent Alpha has pulled out of the LC5 seat by-election. 

While addressing the media in Hoima City yesterday, Opio said he realised that contesting in the by-election would affect his secured district councillor’s position by resigning from it.

In the recently concluded general elections, Opio was duly elected for the position of district male councillor for Kabwoya sub-county on the MRM ticket, marking the second term of his political career.

Besides becoming the acting district chairman after the death of chairman Banura Peter who died in a road crash on April 4, 2026, Opio is not eyeing the top chair.

“Contesting for this position will require me to first resign from the post of the elected district councillor for Kabwoya, and yet it is an easy process,” he said.

Opio, however, in his communication, said that he will be ready to work with any candidate who will be elected by the people, appealing to the voters to have a peaceful by-election.

About nomination 

As the Electoral Commission (EC) fixes June 2026 for the by-election, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s electoral commission has so far nominated at least five candidates.

Recently, at the delegates’ meeting held at Kikuube district headquarters, the national chairperson of NRM EC, Dr Tang Odoi, said holding primary elections helps the party to get its flag bearer before they face off with other political parties.

Odoi, had also said all the interested individuals are required to pay Shs1 m for nomination to the NRM party finance account.

Meanwhile, in a two-day nomination exercise for NRM party primaries which ended on May 8, at the party headquarters in Kyandondo, Kampala, five aspirants are ready for the race.

Pascal Musuuga, the Kikuube district NRM registrar revealed that by 4pm on Friday, Christopher Nkalu, the speaker of Kikuube district, Philip Mbabazi Burnet, a son of Major Gen rtd Matayo Kyaligonza and brother to the late Peter Banura, Paddy Kisembo and Patrick Tusabe and another candidate only identified as Dickson were fully nominated.

Musuuga added that the aspirants would hold a harmonisation meeting on Saturday in Kikuube district ahead of their joint campaigns.

Meanwhile, NRM party primaries are set for Friday May 22, 2026.