Anyama Mobilises Support for Leku Ahead of Adjumani West By-election

ADJUMANI: Former independent parliamentary candidate Ben Anyama has called on his supporters and voters across Adjumani West to overwhelmingly support National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer James Leku Pilli in Thursday’s parliamentary by-election, urging residents to put past political differences aside and unite for the development of the constituency.

Anyama made the appeal on Monday while speaking to journalists in an exclusive interview, days after withdrawing from the race and declaring his support for Leku, the NRM candidate.

He said his decision to back Leku was driven by his commitment to the NRM and followed an appeal by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the party’s National Chairman.

Anyama urged his supporters to forgive one another and move beyond divisions associated with previous elections, saying the constituency now needs a fresh political agenda centred on unity.

“I want to ask my people, my supporters, and all the people of Adjumani district to forgive each other and forget the past election of Parliament and the past election of LC5, because we are going for another agenda. That agenda is now unity for everybody in Adjumani district,” Anyama said.

Unity needed for development

According to Anyama, continued political divisions could make it difficult for leaders to effectively lobby government for essential services and development programmes.

He argued that political unity would allow leaders to work together in securing improved services in health, education, water, employment and other areas that directly affect residents.

“As a result, the services and everything cannot work,” he said.

Anyama said his decision to rally behind Leku should therefore not be viewed merely as an electoral calculation, but as part of a broader effort to restore unity and stability in Adjumani following the death of veteran politician Gen. Moses Ali.

“What will come next is to see that Adjumani is peaceful, to see that Adjumani people are united, and to see that we back the NRM party for many years to come,” he said.

Calls for massive NRM vote

Anyama also asked his former supporters to demonstrate their support for his decision by voting for Leku when residents go to the polls on Thursday.

“You vote massively for NRM. Now that we have withdrawn, we must go full swing to support the party. It would be double standards for me to say you vote here but not tell you to vote for NRM,” he said.

The call gives Leku additional backing as the NRM intensifies its mobilisation efforts across Adjumani West ahead of polling day.

The race also includes independent candidate Jasper Draga.

Long association with NRM

Anyama described himself as one of the senior NRM cadres in Adjumani and traced his association with the movement to 1986, when he said he joined alongside Gen. Moses Ali.

He said he subsequently served the government in a number of capacities, describing his appointments to public institutions as evidence of the opportunities he received under President Museveni's leadership.

Among the positions he cited are director at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), chairman of the board of the Uganda Content Development Authority and his current position as chairman of the board of directors of the National Agricultural Research and Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRC).

His political journey has therefore remained closely associated with the NRM and Gen. Moses Ali, whose death created the vacancy now being contested.

Moses Ali's legacy

The Adjumani West parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Gen. Moses Ali, a long-serving NRM politician who represented the constituency for several years and previously served in senior government positions, including as Defence Minister.

The by-election has subsequently become a major political contest, with the NRM deploying senior party officials and mobilisers to consolidate support for Leku.

For Anyama, however, the election should also mark an opportunity for the people of Adjumani to close the chapter on previous political disagreements and build a united front.

He called on leaders in the district to meet President Museveni after the election to discuss Adjumani's political future and explore ways of maintaining unity following the death of Gen. Moses Ali.

“It is not just about being an MP. Uniting people is another thing,” Anyama said.

Museveni rally

Anyama also urged residents to turn up in large numbers for President Museveni's campaign rally in support of Leku, saying he wanted to see the venue filled with supporters.

Museveni is expected in Adjumani on Tuesday for a major campaign rally at Paridi Stadium in Adjumani Town Council, as the NRM moves to close its campaign for Leku ahead of Thursday's vote.

The President's visit is expected to provide a major boost to the party's mobilisation efforts as the final days of campaigning approach.

The Adjumani West parliamentary by-election is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026.

With Anyama now urging his supporters to back Leku, the contest enters its final phase with the NRM seeking to retain the seat previously held by Gen. Moses Ali, while independent candidate Jasper Draga remains in the race.

For Anyama, the immediate priority is no longer the parliamentary contest itself, but ensuring that the election leaves Adjumani more united, peaceful and capable of working with government to attract development.