BUSOGA
With just days to the highly anticipated Delegates Conference on 24th August, the race for the Eastern Region Older Persons Member of Parliament has taken a dramatic turn.
Ofwono Opondo, a seasoned political communicator and staunch cadre, is clearly ahead of his rival, leaving Minister Gidudu struggling to hold onto his once-loyal base.
This week, Opondo’s campaign has lit up the Eastern region like never before. From Jinja to Mayuge, Kamuli to Iganga, and stretching further to Bugiri, Namutumba, Namayingo, and Kaliro, the veteran communicator has been meeting delegates daily, listening to their concerns, and selling his bold 2026–2031 campaign agenda.
Delegates are rallying behind Opondo not by accident but because his promises strike at the core of senior citizens’ struggles. His 10-point plan, which includes lowering the SAGE age and adjusting it to inflation, fair pension reform, annual health checks, subsidized medicine, and discounted utility bills for elders, has been described by many as “the most practical and people-centered agenda” of the campaign.
In Busoga, senior citizens praised him as a man of his word, someone who speaks truth to power and who will not shy away from challenging the President if it means standing up for elders’ rights. “We know Opondo. He has never been afraid to speak his mind, and that is the voice we need in Parliament,” one elderly delegate in Jinja remarked as his colleagues nodded in agreement.
The real political earthquake, however, is the collapse of Minister Gidudu’s support. Once seen as a strong contender, Gidudu’s camp has been losing staunch cadres who have openly crossed over to Opondo. In Jinja and Kamuli, several of Gidudu’s diehard supporters declared their allegiance to Opondo, saying his campaign reflects “fresh energy, intellect, and seriousness” that elders badly need in Parliament.
The shift was even more dramatic in Kamuli, where delegates went a step further by writing a signed declaration to rally behind Opondo. In political terms, this was a public announcement that the tide has officially turned.
When Opondo’s campaign trail touched Iganga, it was nothing short of a carnival. Delegates from Iganga, Kaliro, Namutumba, Bugiri, and Namayingo welcomed him with enthusiasm, describing him as a leader who combines intellect, wisdom, and practical solutions.
By the time he left, Opondo had not only won hearts but also secured promises of total support on voting day. “We are tired of being ignored. We want affordable housing, access to land titles, fair pensions, and real health care. Opondo is speaking our language,” one elderly woman from Namutumba said.
According to the mood on the ground, Opondo is not just leading, he is cruising towards a landslide. Delegates say they are “only waiting for Kololo” to line up behind him, confident that his clear, people-driven manifesto will deliver ageing in comfort and dignity for senior citizens.
As one delegate summed it up in Jinja at the city hall: “With Opondo, our voice will finally be bold, loud, and credible. With Gidudu, we are only hearing promises we’ve heard before. This time, we are going with action.”
For now, all signs point to Ofwono Opondo P’ODEL as the man to beat. And with momentum firmly on his side, his rivals may have to prepare for a political reality check come the delegates’ line-up at Kololo.
