Unveiling their candidate on Saturday at the party office premises at Junior Quarters in Lira City on Saturday; Mr Lewis David Rubongoya, the NUP Secretary General, said there were three people who showed interest to be the party’s flag bearers but after vetting them, the party’s electoral body chose Mr Daniel Okello as the most suitable candidate.But when the Deputy President of NUP for Northern Uganda, Dr Lina Zedriga Waru unveiled Mr Daniel Okello as the flag bearer for Oyam North by-election, the duo welcomed the party decision and promised to rally their support behind him.
Mr Okello after being offered the party flag, pledged to address the gaps in the health, education and socioeconomic sectors.
Mr Rubongoya, urged the NUP candidate in the much anticipated hotly contest election that will as well have the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) to be strong hearted because there will be a lot of intimidation.
“So stand firm for your people. You must exhibit a lot of courage, a lot of resilience to guard the voters of Oyam North. The people of Oyam expects you to stand firm and resist any form of intimidations. The regime I know will come throwing money at you to get out of the race,” Mr Rubongoya told Mr Okello.Mr Okello who stood on the NUP ticket and won in the last local council election is the LC5 councillor for Oyam Town Council.
The two other people who had also showed interest are Mr Samuel Odong, the councillor of Nama sub-county in Mukono District but hails from Iceme sub-county in Oyam District and Mr Joe Nam, a veteran journalist who contested as an Independent candidate for Oyam North Parliamentary seat in the last election.
The seat fell vacant on May 2, 2023 after the death of former MP Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola, who was shot dead on by his bodyguard Pte Wilson Sabiiti as he was leaving his home in Kyanja, Kampala. Sabiiti then committed suicide by turning the killer gun on himself.
Mr Okello Engola was also the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations.
