Otuke, Uganda | Julius Acon, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Otuke East and Chairperson of the NRM in Otuke District, officially launched his campaign for the upcoming NRM primaries scheduled for July 16, 2025.
Addressing enthusiastic supporters during his first rally, Acon reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive leadership and grassroots development.
He explained that his campaign had been initially planned to commence on July 1, but was delayed due to a lack of financial facilitation from the NRM secretariat.
Acon expressed disappointment, noting that while the party had directed candidates to embark on joint campaigns, no support was provided to enable that.
He pointed out that fellow contestants like Omara Paul, Abeja Susan, and Richard Omara Awio had already begun their solo campaigns.
He acknowledged the words of Omara Paul, who had remarked to him that joint campaigning becomes impractical if one candidate lacks resources, reflecting shared frustration over inadequate party support.
Despite these financial constraints, Acon promised to implement impactful initiatives if re-elected.
He pledged to support local groups with goats, emphasizing that Otuke’s economy heavily relies on animal rearing.
Addressing the issue of war claim compensation, he criticized the current handling process and stressed the need for equitable distribution.
He called for an end to data card selling and corruption, asserting that compensation should not benefit only a selected few.
He further announced plans to ensure the drilling of a borehole in Alai Ward within July, following the completion of a maternal theatre and a medical training program for healthcare workers at Christina Health Centre.
Urging voters to embrace unity and integrity, Acon encouraged them to vote with sincerity if they desired real development.
Sam Oweka Iyen, once a critic, declared that Acon was the most prominent leader Otuke East had ever had.
He appealed to the people to turn out early on voting day and also requested their support in his own bid for the LCV seat, promising improved coordination for development in the district.
Francis Otyama, LC3 of Olilim and also an LCV aspirant, defended Acon in the face of complaints about poor road conditions.
He noted that the government had released one billion shillings for roads and highlighted that Otuke already had road construction machinery in place.
According to him, Acon had fulfilled his responsibilities regarding road infrastructure.
CP Okullo, the NRM Chairperson for Alai, commended Acon’s service but also made fresh appeals for development. He requested the construction of more boreholes and the establishment of a nursery school in Alai.
He described Acon as the only leader capable of delivering real development for Otuke East.
Atim Joan from Olec Ward praised his inclusive leadership and efforts in distributing seeds to the community.
Oriba Denis, a youth football coach, appreciated Acon’s support for youth empowerment through sports and highlighted that the MP responds to calls from all people without discrimination.
Lydia Akullu, a tailoring trainee, shared her gratitude for having received vocational training through Acon’s youth empowerment initiative.
She appealed to Acon to expand the program to include hairdressing and other trades, stating that such efforts could greatly improve the livelihoods of young people in Otuke.