Bukedi's 2026 Elections: 24 MPs Ousted in Youth-Driven Political Wave

Twenty-four of Bukedi's 29 incumbent Members of Parliament lost their seats in the 2026 general elections, marking one of the most dramatic political upheavals the sub-region has experienced in decades. The elections were characterized by unusually low voter turnout across most polling stations, but the reduced participation did not prevent a sweeping rejection of incumbents and the rise of new political faces, many of them young first-time legislators. In Tororo District, only three of the eight sitting MPs managed to survive the electoral wave. Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Prominent figures including Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi, Tororo County North MP Geoffrey Ekanya, West Budama North East MP Fox Odoi, and Tororo Municipality MP Apollo Yeri Ofwono were all defeated by fresh challengers. Independent candidate Shyam Jay Tanna won the Tororo Municipality seat, replacing Ofwono. Angella Akoth unseated long-serving Woman MP Opendi, Nicholas Owino defeated Ekanya in Tororo County North, while Richard Machika overcame Fox Odoi in West Budama North East. The newly elected leaders said the results reflected voter frustration with representation that was perceived as visible in Parliament but ineffective at the grassroots. "During my campaigns, about 85 percent of voters told me that although the incumbent was vocal in Parliament, there was no service delivery on the ground," Akoth said. "I will not only be vocal in Parliament but will also actively lobby for my people." Tanna said his leadership would focus on unity and tackling youth unemployment in Tororo Municipality. "I will begin by engaging factory owners in Tororo to encourage them to prioritize our youths when offering jobs. This will help reduce unemployment in the municipality," he said. Similar political shifts were recorded in Butaleja and Busia districts, where none of the incumbent MPs retained their seats. In contrast, some constituencies witnessed the return of former legislators, including James Waliswaka in Bunyole West and Julius Maganda, both of whom regained parliamentary seats after earlier defeats. Bukedi sub-region, which comprises seven districts and 22 constituencies, saw only five incumbents survive the elections, underscoring the scale of voter discontent with established leadership. Machika attributed the defeat of several incumbents to their legislative positions and public conduct while in office. "Coming up with bills like the homosexuality legislation worked against my opponent because many voters had grown bitter about it," he said. Owino, however, linked the political shift to improved service delivery under the ruling National Resistance Movement. "This change is partly due to transformation programs such as the Parish Development Model, which has improved livelihoods at the grassroots," he said. Political analysts say the results reflect growing impatience with long-serving MPs and the influence of younger voters seeking new ideas and approaches. "Some MPs have been in Parliament for over 30 years and had become fatigued, with few new ideas," said Dr Patrick Wakida, a political researcher and MP-elect for Kabweri County in Kibuku District. "The newcomers capitalized on that to outcompete them." Bukedi also emerged as one of the few sub-regions where sitting ministers failed to retain their parliamentary seats. Of the three ministers from the area, two--State Minister for Foreign Affairs John Mulimba and State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs Jenipher Kacha Namuyangu--were voted out in the 2026 elections.