Ofwono Opondo Joins Parliament After 12 Years at Uganda Media Centre
According to the declaration form issued by Mr. Nsuube Richard, the Returning Officer for the Eastern Region, the announcement was made at the Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kampala at 11:25 a.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The Electoral Commission has officially declared Ofwono Opondo P’odel, the former Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, unopposed as the Member of Parliament representing Older Persons for Eastern Uganda in the forthcoming 2026 Parliamentary Elections.
According to the declaration form issued by Mr. Nsuube Richard, the Returning Officer for the Eastern Region, the announcement was made at the Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kampala at 11:25 a.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025. The declaration was made pursuant to Section 37 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177, which mandates the Commission to declare a candidate elected unopposed where no other contender is nominated.
“Ofwono Opondo P’odel of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Political Party, elected unopposed for Eastern Region Representative of Older Persons in Parliament,” the declaration form reads.
This development marks a significant transition for Opondo, who only months earlier resigned from his long-held position as Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre to join elective politics. His decision to step down was endorsed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who gave him the green light to contest for Parliament in May 2025.
A Seasoned Government Communicator Turns Politician
Ofwono Opondo’s resignation in May 2025 came just two months before the expiry of his three-year contract. Having served as the face of government communication for over a decade, his departure marked the end of an era characterized by robust public engagement and a firm defense of government policies.
“I was appointed Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on July 1, 2013. It has been a fulfilling 12 years,” Opondo reflected upon his resignation.
Throughout his tenure, he became one of Uganda’s most recognized government communicators, often engaging the media and citizens on matters of national interest. His tenure saw him play a central role in explaining government reforms, defending policy directions, and coordinating state communication.
Before his Media Centre appointment, Opondo had already established himself as a leading political communicator. He served as Director of Information and Public Relations at the Movement Secretariat starting in 2002, succeeding Winnie Byanyima. Since 2003, he has also been the official spokesperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), a position that placed him at the forefront of several presidential election campaigns — notably those of 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016.
A New Chapter of Service
By joining the Parliament as a representative of Older Persons, Opondo is expected to bring decades of experience in political communication, governance, and national policy discourse to the legislative arena. His election aligns with the NRM’s ongoing effort to strengthen representation across various special interest groups, particularly in the run-up to the 2026 general elections.
Political observers note that Opondo’s transition from government communicator to legislator underscores the evolving role of senior public servants in shaping national policy through direct political participation.
With his unopposed election, Ofwono Opondo becomes one of the early confirmed Members of Parliament for the 12th Parliament (2026–2031), joining other special interest group representatives yet to be declared by the Electoral Commission.
