Dokolo, Uganda | NRM Flagbearer for Dokolo North County, Joseph Jones Ogwal, expressed concern that the majority of students admitted to Lira University are from outside the Lango Subregion, despite the institution having been established to primarily benefit the people of Lango.
Ogwal attributed the situation to the low academic performance of learners in the region, which he said is a lingering effect of past insurgencies.
He pledged to advocate for affirmative action through a quarter system, where one additional point would be given to students from regions affected by historical conflicts, such as Lango, to improve their chances of accessing higher education.
He told the gathering that many young people in the area are being left behind by the education system, emphasizing the need for deliberate government policies to ensure fairness and inclusion.
Unveiling his campaign manifesto for the 2026–2031 term, Ogwal outlined priorities focusing on education, health, women empowerment, and youth development.
He committed himself to training five doctors and thirty nurses from within Dokolo North to strengthen the health workforce and pledged to follow up on a government ambulance designated for the community to ensure it is delivered and operational.
He said land had already been secured for the construction of an Adult Learning Centre in Bata Town Council to promote literacy and skill development among adults and youth.
Ogwal also revealed that ten sewing machines had been acquired to support teenage girls in learning tailoring and becoming self-reliant.
In addition, he promised to support women’s groups across the constituency and advocate for a law protecting customary land under the authority of cultural leaders.
Ogwal urged voters in Dokolo North to cast their votes for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Janet Rose Adongo Elau for District Woman MP, James Otto Apili for District LC V Chairperson, and all NRM candidates, saying that development could best be achieved when the leadership at all levels is united under one political direction.
Geoffrey Opio Ekong, Dokolo District NRM Chairperson, encouraged residents to vote for NRM leaders from the grassroots up to the national level, arguing that opposition politicians lacked direct links to the President and are therefore unable to effectively attract development projects to their areas.
Janet Rose Adongo Elau, NRM Flagbearer for Dokolo District Woman MP, said that the current opposition representative had failed to amplify the voices of the people in Parliament.
She advised the electorate not to be swayed by temporary handouts from rival candidates but to elect leaders who could effectively lobby and engage government structures for tangible results.
Meanwhile, Shaban Ocen, NRM Flagbearer for Bata Town Council LCIII Chairperson, criticized previous leaders for neglecting their voters after being elected, saying they had failed to deliver on the trust given to them by the people.
The campaign team, led by Ogwal and Adongo, traversed four venues within Bata Town Council on the opening day of their campaign trail on Tuesday, November 11.
Ogwal’s message, which aligns closely with President Museveni’s national development agenda, centers on expanding educational opportunities, improving health services, empowering women and youth, and preserving cultural heritage in Dokolo North.