Lira, Uganda – The race for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer in Lira City East Division is shaping up to be a tight contest, with two prominent aspirants, Denis Alyela Omodi and Okello Opio Francis, locked in a neck-and-neck battle as the NRM primaries on July 17, 2025, draw near. Party supporters are closely scrutinizing their manifestos.
Alyela Denis Omodi, a former Kampala Central Division Town Clerk, was welcomed by a significant number of NRM supporters at Ayago Ward on Thursday, July 3, 2025. This was during his interaction and meeting with party chairpersons from various wards within Lira City East Division. Alyela is reportedly garnering substantial support in his bid for the Lira City East MP seat. He addressed members of the press at the NRM party office at Senior Quarters as he officially launched his full campaign.
Alyela, a native of Akwaka village, Ongura Ward, began his campaign by meeting with the NRM party administration and ward chairpersons from Lira City East Division. He later participated in a joint campaign rally that brought together almost all candidates contesting in Lira City East Division at Obanga Pe Wany Yawheah Pentecostal Church grounds.
While addressing the electorates, Mr. Alyela promised to prioritize the rehabilitation of road infrastructure and improve health service delivery. He pledged to lobby for and appropriate sufficient budgets to upgrade, fully equip, and adequately staff lower health units. This, he stated, would reduce the burden on “wanainchi” (citizens) who currently travel many kilometers for better medical services. He also committed to hosting several health camps to provide affordable medical treatment to local people. Alyela expressed his determination to be the candidate who will strengthen the NRM party’s ideology within Lira City East Division.
Denis Alyela Omodi officially resigned and handed over his office on June 30, 2025, to fully concentrate on his Lira City East MP flag bearer campaign. The Lira City East Division party leadership, led by Chairman Tonny Alex Ogwal, welcomed and blessed his campaign. Residents of Lira East have long voiced concerns about inadequate parliamentary representation, urging Alyela to focus on unity, service delivery, and the socio-economic transformation and empowerment of the area’s electorates if elected as their Member of Parliament.
Alyela will face a strong contender in Okello Opio Francis, also known as “Dano Mabor.” Okello Opio is a senior NRM mobilizer and a Presidential Advisor for Lango affairs, also vying for the NRM MP flag bearer position for Lira City East Division.
Dr. Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, recently cautioned all NRM party candidates at every level to strictly adhere to the campaign guidelines set by the party’s electoral commission to avoid disqualification. According to a senior political analyst who preferred anonymity, both Alyela and Opio Francis remain in a tight race ahead of the primaries.
