By Mike Rwothomio

Former State Minister of Energy and long-serving Okoro County Member of Parliament, Eng. Simon D’Ujanga, has officially announced his candidacy for the Okoro County parliamentary seat in the 2026 general elections.

The announcement follows weeks of grassroots mobilization, with constituents from Okoro County visiting D’Ujanga’s residence to urge him to run.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, July 20, at his home in Ambaki Village, Kaya Parish, Paidha Sub-County, Zombo District, D’Ujanga confirmed he will contest as an independent candidate.

“Members of the press, welcome to our humble home this Sunday morning. You may recall I previously stated I would not contest the Okoro County MP seat for the 2026-2031 term. However, following numerous delegations from constituents across Okoro County urging me to run, I have consulted widely and found overwhelming support for my candidacy,” D’Ujanga said.

Eng. Simon D'Ujanga speaks to journalists at his home in Ambaki Village, Kaya Parish, Paidha Sub County, Zombo District, on Sunday, July 20, 2025.photo/ Mike Rwothomio

A staunch member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), D’Ujanga explained that the late surge of public support prompted his decision to run independently, as the NRM’s primary elections had already advanced.

“The grassroots call for my candidacy came after the NRM primaries were underway, making it impossible to participate. Therefore, I will stand as an independent candidate in the 2026 elections,” he clarified.

D’Ujanga’s announcement comes shortly after the NRM concluded its internal primaries in Zombo District, where Gabriel Okumu emerged as the party’s flag bearer for Okoro County. D’Ujanga will also face other independent candidates in the race.

His campaign platform prioritizes key constituency issues, including advocating for the construction of the 119-kilometer Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Warr-Vuura road, revitalizing women’s village Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), and improving education infrastructure.

Background of Eng. Simon D’Ujanga

D’Ujanga graduated from Makerere University in March 1977 with a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering. He joined the Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) as a trainee engineer in May 1977, becoming a full engineer in 1979 after completing technical training.

In 1981, he earned a second master’s degree in electrical engineering, specializing in machines and power systems, from the University of Aston in Birmingham, UK.

Rising to Managing Director of UEB by 1998, D’Ujanga navigated the privatization of the energy sector and established Radio Paidha.

He also extended electricity from Nebbi to Paidha, leveraging Nebbi Hospital’s generator to provide power to the area, previously reliant on a limited diesel generator in Arua.

D’Ujanga’s political career began in 2000 when he won a by-election for Okoro County following the death of MP Rugete Tony. He was directly elected as MP in 2001, serving until 2006, during which he was appointed State Minister of Energy.

He oversaw the groundbreaking of the Nyagak I hydropower project in 2006 and its commissioning in 2012.

Re-elected as MP for Okoro County from 2006 to 2011, he lost the 2011 election but retained his ministerial role. In 2016, he reclaimed the Okoro County seat, serving until 2021, when he was defeated in the NRM primaries.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot news