Queen Dorothy Amolo Stirs Oyam South Political Landscape Ahead of Campaigns Kick Off

Oyam District, Uganda — Former presidential hopeful Queen Dorothy Amolo has returned to the political arena, shaking up the Oyam South race ahead of the official start of parliamentary campaigns on Monday. Her comeback has injected fresh energy as was witnessed on her nomination day with a huge trail of supporters following last week’s closure of nominations by the Electoral Commission.

Amolo, who made national headlines in 2023 when she declared her intention to challenge President Yoweri Museveni for the presidency under the NRM ticket, is now contesting the Oyam South parliamentary seat as an independent candidate. She says the decision marks a shift from national ambitions to a focus on grassroots reform and effective representation in Parliament.

“I realized I was not fully prepared for the presidency at that time,” Amolo said. “After spending time in the United States, I decided that meaningful change can start in Parliament, where laws and policies directly shape our communities.”

Amolo is centering her campaign on legislative reforms and accountability in leadership. She argues that the quality of debate and lawmaking in Parliament can only improve if the qualifications of MPs are raised and voters elect more competent, outspoken representatives. “We need to raise the bar for leadership. Parliament must not be a place for silence, MPs must speak, act, and deliver,” she emphasized.

She has also proposed organizing regional parliamentary debates conducted in English, the language used in the national legislature, to test candidates’ readiness and communication skills. “It doesn’t make sense for candidates to campaign in local languages yet fail to articulate national issues in English during parliamentary debates,” she noted.

Amolo is no stranger to the Oyam political scene. Since 2011, she has contested several parliamentary races in both Apac and Oyam districts. In the 2021 general elections, she came second to the current Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi, in the Oyam South contest. Reflecting on her earlier defeats, Amolo cites financial challenges and alleged electoral malpractice but insists that those experiences have prepared her better for this year’s race. “I’ve been through it all, the setbacks, the lessons, the victories. This time, I am prepared and determined to deliver for Oyam South, because i am not telling them what i will do for them but asking them what they need and i will deliver that to them” she said confidently.

The Oyam South race has been further shaken by Minister Amongi’s decision to transfer her candidature to Lira City, where she will now contest for the Woman MP seat. Her departure has left Oyam South wide open, drawing both fresh contenders and seasoned politicians back into the fray.

With campaigns officially set to begin on Monday, Queen Dorothy Amolo says she is ready to take her message of reform, education, and community empowerment directly to the voters. As the campaign season unfolds, Oyam South, once a quiet corner of northern Uganda, is fast emerging as a battleground for ideas, influence, and political renewal. – Ends-