Former independent parliamentary candidate Ben Anyama has thrown his support behind NRM flag bearer James Leku Pilli ahead of Thursday’s Adjumani West parliamentary by-election, calling on his supporters and voters to put past political differences aside and unite.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Anyama said his decision to back Leku was in line with his commitment to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and followed an appeal by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the party’s National Chairman.
He urged residents of Adjumani to forgive one another and move beyond divisions arising from previous parliamentary and LC5 elections, saying unity was necessary for the district to benefit from government programmes and services.
“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.
He argued that continued political divisions could undermine efforts by leaders to secure better services and development opportunities for residents, particularly in health, education, water and employment.
Anyama, who described himself as a senior NRM cadre in Adjumani, said he joined the movement in 1986 alongside the late Gen. Moses Ali and has since served Government in various capacities.
He cited his previous appointments, including serving as a director at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), chairman of the board of the Uganda Content Development Authority and, currently, chairman of the board of directors of NAGRIC, as some of the opportunities he has received under President Museveni’s leadership.
The Adjumani West seat fell vacant following the death of veteran NRM politician and former Defence Minister Gen. Moses Ali, who represented the constituency for several years.
The by-election is being contested by NRM’s Leku Pilli and independent candidate Jasper Draga.
Anyama said his immediate priority was to promote peace and unity in Adjumani following the death of Gen. Moses Ali, urging his former supporters to support Leku at the polls.
“You vote massively for NRM. Now that we have withdrawn, we must go full swing to support the party,” he said.
He also called on Adjumani leaders to engage President Museveni after the by-election on the district’s political future and ways of maintaining unity.
The Adjumani West parliamentary by-election is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026, with President Museveni expected to campaign for Leku at a rally at Paridi Stadium in Adjumani Town Council on Tuesday.
Anyama urged residents to turn up in large numbers for the rally, saying he wanted to see the venue filled with supporters.
