Nancy Atim: Since Uganda’s return to multiparty politics in 2006, open constituency elections have largely remained a male-dominated arena. Across the country, parliamentary seats appeared permanently attached to familiar names, well-funded networks, and entrenched patronage systems. Campaign posters faded and slogans changed, but leadership often remained the same.
In the Lango Sub-region, this pattern was particularly pronounced. Women were frequently confined to reserved seats or sidelined from competitive races, while open constituencies were viewed as an exclusive male preserve.
Cultural expectations, financial barriers, political violence, and structural inequalities combined to discourage women from directly challenging male incumbents.
As the January 15, 2026, general elections approach, however, that long-standing narrative is under visible pressure.
Preliminary figures from the Uganda Electoral Commission indicate that 128 women are contesting for directly elected constituency Member of Parliament seats in 2026, out of 353 open constituencies nationwide.
Overall, more than 2,700 candidates are competing for 519 parliamentary seats across all categories. While men still dominate numerically, the growing presence of women signals a deliberate challenge to entrenched political norms.
The Women Contesting Power
In Lango, interviews with female aspirants’ reveal campaigns shaped by resilience, confrontation with patriarchal attitudes, and determination to redefine leadership beyond gender.
In Amolatar District, Collin Angwech, a businesswoman and café operator, is contesting for the Kioga Constituency on the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) ticket. She faces four male rivals, including incumbent Member of Parliament, Moses Okot Junior Bitek.
Angwech says her campaign has been characterized by intimidation and misinformation, with some opponents allegedly telling voters it is “not right” for a woman to compete against men in an open constituency. Rather than retreat, she has responded with civic education.
“The law allows women to contest for any position. Leadership should be judged by competence and vision, not gender,” Angwech says.
Her campaign platform focuses on infrastructure development, poverty reduction, improved health and education services, and strengthening community representation in Parliament.
She points to tangible contributions she has already made, supporting schools, equipping health centres, promoting solar energy solutions, and strengthening women’s savings groups as evidence of her leadership capacity.
Persistence after setbacks, former presidential aspirant. Dorothy Amolo, popularly known as Queen Dorothy, is contesting for the Oyam South parliamentary seat against seven male candidates.
In 2023, Amolo announced her intention to contest for the presidency under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket in the 2026 general elections. This followed her withdrawal from the Oyam North by-election held to replace the late Rtd Col. Charles Okello Engola Mac-Odwogo, the former Minister of State for Labour and Industrial Relations.
She is now contesting as an independent candidate for Oyam South, a seat currently held by Gender Minister Betty Amongi Akena, who is contesting for Lira City Woman MP.
In the 2021 general elections, Amolo came second with 14,883 votes, losing to Amongi, who secured 27,024 votes. She describes her renewed bid as “a big but bright challenge,” saying her political experience positions her strongly for victory.
She alleges that disrupted rallies and character attacks reflect fear of her popularity rather than fair competition.
“Women sustain most households here. We are natural leaders. Fear, not ability, is what often holds women back,” Amolo says.
She urges young girls to embrace failure as part of growth. “Be afraid of a person who has never failed. If you hire a driver who has never been in an accident, they don’t know how to drive,” she says.
Her interventions at the community level include distributing maternity kits, supporting youth sports initiatives, and advocating for better-equipped health centres. She is contesting against several male candidates, including Geoffrey Owili (UPC), Bernard Awuko (Independent), Patrick Ogwang Obura (NRM), Otto Ishaa Amiza (NUP), and Dr Ekwaro Ebuku (Independent).
Meanwhile, in Oyam North, Dr. Eunice Apio Otuko stands out as one of the most prominent female political figures in Lango. A politician, human rights activist, researcher, and writer, her political rise is rooted in advocacy, resilience, and commitment to democratic governance.
Dr. Apio won the tightly contested Oyam North by-election in 2023 following the death of Rtd. Col Charles Okello Engola Mac-Odwogo. Born in 1975 in Acokara Parish, Otwal Sub-county, Oyam District, she says her early exposure to leadership and public service shaped her political ambitions.
Her interest deepened after observing strong parliamentary representation in earlier legislatures and the decline that followed the exit of former MP Ben Wacha. Motivated to restore effective representation, she formally entered politics in 2017.
A lifelong member of the Uganda People’s Congress, Dr Apio says her values are shaped by the party’s ideology of truthfulness, honesty, fairness, and respect. She describes herself as God-fearing and deeply connected to her people.
Her academic journey began at VH Primary School in Lira City and St Mary’s College Aboke for O-Level education, where she narrowly escaped a Lord’s Resistance Army raid. She later completed A-Level at Tororo Girls’ School before joining Makerere University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Master’s degree in Human Rights. She later obtained a PhD in African Studies and Anthropology from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Apio has published academic articles, book chapters, and fiction, including her novel Zura Maids, which explores human trafficking in Africa. She is currently working on a historical study of the trans-Saharan slave trade.
Regarding her political career, Dr. Apio says that it has not been without challenges, speaking openly about campaign violence, intimidation, arrests of polling agents, and alleged electoral malpractice.
In the 2021 general elections, she contested but lost, a result she attributes to irregularities.
Beyond politics, she is a social entrepreneur working with marginalized communities in post-conflict northern Uganda. Her priorities include human capital development, poverty reduction, access to clean water, rural electrification, and improved health and education services.
As Oyam North MP, she pledges to continue to champion human rights, peace, democracy, and improved livelihoods as she prepares for another electoral contest against NRM’s Will Omodo Omodo, Junior Engola (Ind), among others.
In Kwania County, Evaline Awor Pule is contesting against incumbent MP Tonny Ayoo (NRM) and others. Awor, who believes in inclusive development without partisan barriers, says her commitment to serving all communities regardless of political affiliation has defined her political journey.
“I am not against any political party. Even if I run as an independent, I will work to ensure development reaches the grassroots and benefits everyone,” she says.
Her campaign focuses on education, health, roads, water, and agricultural support sectors, she says have been neglected for too long.
A secondary school teacher and Information Technology graduate, Angweri’s political journey is rooted in community service and resistance to entrenched gender barriers. She entered politics in 2006 after community members mobilized her to contest as a councilor following dissatisfaction with parish leadership.
Inspired by the former Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal, Angweri believes women can lead effectively despite resistance. Her political path has been marked by opposition from family members, financial constraints, and cultural stereotypes.
She cites the high cost of collecting nomination signatures as a recent challenge, with some nominators demanding between UGX 50,000, and UGX 100,000. Despite these obstacles, she says financial limitations have never deterred her ambition.
Often referred to as “city mama,” Angweri says women are judged more harshly than men in political spaces. She credits radio and social media for amplifying her voice and broadening her reach.
Her advocacy record includes campaigns related to Akii-Bua Stadium, the Lira–Kamdini road, recovery of public land, defence of workers’ rights, and anti-corruption initiatives.
From Otuke District is former Woman MP, Silvia Akello, seeking political comeback, this time contesting for Otuke East Constituency.
Akello served in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021) and is a teacher, social worker, and religious leader.
Her political journey began in 1993 when she served as a district youth councillor, later becoming a woman councillor and eventually a Woman MP. She lost her seat in 2021 to Susan Jolly Abeja.
Nicknamed “Twon ager Otero idok Among”, a local expression emphasizing strategic leadership, Akello says her achievements include contributing to the creation of new sub-counties such as Ogor and Ogwete.
Her agenda focuses on youth and women empowerment, strengthening Seed Secondary Schools, addressing security concerns, and promoting the cultural and historical significance of Otuke Hills. She is contesting against several male candidates, including incumbent Julius Acon Bua (NRM), Otuke district speaker Lameck Ogwal (Ind), Dr. Collins Jennisio Okuu Okeng (Ind), and Richard Enen (UPC)
In Lira District, Hon Christine Akello Ogwang, popularly known as “Gwokadako,” served as MP for Erute North Constituency in the 11th Parliament (2021–2026). She was elected on the NRM ticket after earlier unsuccessful attempts.
Her political rise was anchored in grassroots mobilisation and the slogan “Gwokadako dang mako” meaning “a woman can also make it.” In Parliament, she served on the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, contributing to debates on education, agriculture, and youth development.
She says her tenure was not without controversy, including criticism over local infrastructure disputes. In July 2025, she lost the NRM party flag to Patrick Ongom and is now contesting as an independent candidate in 2026.
In Kole District, Judith Alyek has served as Woman MP since 2016. A public health professional by training, she has built a reputation for advocacy on health, gender equality, children’s welfare, and social justice.
Born in 1971, Alyek worked as a Health Inspector, Senior Health Educator, and Technical Advisor before entering Parliament. She has chaired key parliamentary committees, including HIV/AIDS and Equal Opportunities, and served as Chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group.
Her development focus spans health, education, water, agriculture, and social protection. In the July 2025 NRM primaries, she lost the party flag and is now contesting as an independent candidate.
According to the Electoral Commission, 2,025 candidates are competing for 353 open constituency seats, including 128 women. An additional 640 women are contesting for reserved seats and other special interest positions.
Civil society leaders acknowledge progress but note persistent barriers. James Acar of the Lango Civil Society Network says while culture has historically marginalized women, the Constitution guarantees equal participation.
The Parliamentary Elections Act of 2005 places no restrictions on women contesting open seats. Historically, women’s success in such races has fluctuated 30 in 2016, 16 in 2011, and only 14 in 2021. Whether 2026 will reverse that decline remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that women in Lango are no longer waiting on the sidelines. They are contesting, confronting, and reshaping Uganda’s political future seat by seat.
