By Alexander Mackey Okori
The State Minister of Works and Transport Musa Francis Ecweru and the incumbent Member of Parliament for Amuria County, who opted to seek re-election as NRM leaning independent candidate after losing the party primaries has finally bowed out of the 2026 Parliamentary race, ending his 20-year reign.
The development was confirmed to this publication by his chief campaign agent Nathan Okiror, who also serves as the Vice LCV Chairperson for Amuria District in a phone interview on Tuesday.
Ecweru’s withdrawal from the race anticipated to be one of the most competitive contests comes just a day after the Electoral Commission on Monday November 10, 2025, flagged off campaigns for candidates contesting for Parliamentary and Local Government positions ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Okiror said that the decision is a culmination of a series of consultative meetings with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party cadres and a section of supporters.
“During the consultative meetings, the party leaders advised the Minister to reconsider his decision to contest as an independent candidate after losing the party ticket to Samuel Ediau as this would disadvantage the party in the upcoming general elections”, explained Okiror.
According to NRM party primary results, Ecweru, who has been the Member of Parliament for Amuria County since 2006 lost the party flag to Ediau, who polled 29, 352 votes against his 19, 977 votes.
But the minister disputed the results and opted to run as an independent contrary to the party’s position, saying that stepping down would be akin to “legitimising crime.
However, in a turn of events, Ecweru has swallowed his pride and accepted to bow out of the race in a move Okiror said is aimed at upholding cohesion within the party, deeply fractured with internal conflicts among cadres and supporters.
“In a bid to ensure fairness within the party, the minister agreed that all the losers in the party primaries should rally behind flag bearers. Consequently, he agreed to step aside in favor of Samuel Ediau”, stated Okiror.
The minister, according to Okiror, has already written to the Electoral Commission informing them about his decision to pull out of the Amuria County Parliamentary race.
When contacted, Daniel Othieno, the Amuria District Election Administrator and Returning Officer acknowledged receipt of Ecweru’s letter notifying them about his decision to pull out of the race.
Ecweru’s withdrawal from the race has reduced the number of the contestants to five up from six.
Among others who have remained in the political ring to fight for their way to the 12th parliament are Samuel Ediau (NRM), Moses Ariong (NUP), Samuel Olinga of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Joseph Epilu and Sam Ojamuge all independent candidates.
Ecweru becomes the second high-profile NRM party figure from Teso Sub-region to step down from a political race.
In August, 2025, the former NRM party national vice chairperson for Eastern Region Capt. Mike Mukula stepped down during the delegates conference at Kololo in favor of David Calvin Ecodu, the current NRM chairperson Eastern region.
Early this month, Mpande Joram Kigenyi of Democratic Party (DP) and aspirant for Member of Parliament for Older Persons representing the Eastern Region withdrew from the race following a petition challenging his nomination.
Kigenyi’s withdrawal saw the EC chairperson Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byamukama declare Ofono Opondo as unopposed Member of Parliament for Older Persons for Eastern region.
The declaration also marks another political milestone for Opondo, who is best known for his role as Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre and government spokesperson.
