The National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer, Leku James Pilli, was declared the winner of the Adjumani West Constituency parliamentary by-election held on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Leku’s victory fills the seat left vacant following the death of the late Gen. Moses Ali. The win marks the NRM’s third consecutive by-election victory following the 2026 General Election, a feat the party says demonstrates its continued strength at the grassroots.
Speaking shortly after the declaration, the NRM Vice Chairman for the Northern Region, Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, congratulated the people of Adjumani West for exercising their constitutional right to vote and for electing the NRM candidate. Obua described the victory as a clear indicator of the party’s enduring organizational strength.
“This is the third straight win by the National Resistance Movement in the recent by-elections after the 2026 General Election. That indicates that the NRM has kept a clean page,” Obua said.
He noted that Leku’s election would enable him to join the NRM parliamentary team and begin the process of representing the people of Adjumani West through legislation, appropriation, budgeting, and oversight. Obua also praised the NRM structures, party members, and campaign teams for their contribution to the victory, stressing the importance of maintaining teamwork and continued engagement with the community.
The NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi, praised the campaign team led by the Director of Mobilization, Dr. Hon. Rosemary Nansubuga Seninde, for their organisation and grassroots mobilisation throughout the electoral process.
“We must apply emotional intelligence in our campaigns. Successful mobilisation requires leaders and campaign teams to connect directly with voters and appreciate the local context,” Dr. Odoi said.
He also highlighted voter apathy as one of the challenges associated with by-elections and encouraged citizens to actively participate in electoral processes and exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders.
“Voter apathy is one of the challenges of by-elections, and I encourage our people to participate actively and exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders,” he added.
Dr. Odoi expressed gratitude to the NRM National Chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for his continued engagement with grassroots communities. He also acknowledged the party’s mobilisation leadership, district structure leaders, and the party candidate for remaining calm and exercising discipline throughout the entire process — right from the primaries to being declared by the national Electoral Commission.
The NRM Director of Mobilisation and Cadre Development, Dr. Hon. Rosemary Nansubuga Seninde, expressed confidence in the party’s growing organisational strength, saying the experience gained from the Adjumani West election would continue to strengthen the NRM ahead of future electoral engagements. Seninde expressed appreciation to the Electoral Commission, NRM structures, district leadership, party members, and all those who participated in the electoral process.
She particularly called for continued unity among the people of Adjumani, urging leaders and citizens to work together now that they have elected their Member of Parliament.
“Now that we have elected a Member of Parliament, let us continue fostering unity, addressing the issues affecting our people, and working together for the progress of Adjumani,” Seninde said.
She said the victory should mark the beginning of renewed cooperation among the people and leaders of the constituency, with emphasis on addressing community priorities and delivering services.
In his concluding remarks, the NRM Adjumani District Chairman, Akuku Charles Sanzo, welcomed the outcome and praised the people of Adjumani West for maintaining peace throughout the electoral process.
“I am really very happy with the people of Adjumani West for maintaining peace in this process,” Sanzo said.
He appealed to those who did not participate in the election to continue engaging with their communities and called for unity among the people of Adjumani West and the wider Adjumani District.
Sanzo congratulated Leku James Pilli upon his election and expressed appreciation to the NRM Secretariat, the NRM Electoral Commission, the national leadership, and the campaign team for guiding the party through the electoral process.
He said the focus should now shift to working together to address the needs of the people and strengthen unity across the district.
