Ngora, Uganda – Ngora District Chairperson Odongo Mike Lo’Asio has officially crossed from National Resistance Movement (NRM) to the opposition Democratic Front (DF), citing alleged electoral malpractice in the party’s primaries.
Lo’Asio, who initially emerged victorious in the recent NRM primaries, claims his victory was fraudulently transferred to another candidate, prompting his decision to abandon the party.
Speaking at the DF headquarters in Namirembe, he accused NRM of betraying its own democratic principles.
“The primaries exposed the rot within the party. My victory was stolen, and I could no longer remain in a system that undermines the will of the people,” Lo’Asio said.
He was accompanied by Pascal Amuriat, DF Deputy President for Eastern Uganda, and Joseph Otala Ebekulasi, the party’s aspiring candidate for Serere County. The trio was welcomed by DF President Mathias Mpuuga, who praised Lo’Asio’s move as a sign of growing confidence in the party’s vision.
Lo’Asio pledged to mobilize support for DF across the Teso sub-region and beyond, describing the party as one that respects internal democracy and values grassroots voices.
Political observers say his defection underscores the growing wave of discontent within the NRM, where internal wrangles have pushed several figures to join emerging political platforms.
Analysts argue that the Democratic Front, which is positioning itself as a formidable challenger in the 2026 general elections, could leverage such defections to build wider regional support.
The development comes as Uganda’s political landscape continues to shift ahead of next year’s polls, with both NRM and opposition parties intensifying their grassroots mobilization.
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