Denis Hamson Obua, Uganda’s Government Chief Whip and National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, has pointed fingers inward following his stunning defeat in the Ajuri County 2026 presidential and parliamentary election.
Obua lost the tightly contested race by a razor-thin margin of just 700 votes to United People’s Congress (UPC) candidate Fred Jalameso, a relatively unknown primary school teacher—an outcome that has sent shockwaves through the ruling party ranks.
Speaking to the journalists on his return for duties at Parliament , Obua claimed his loss was not merely an opposition victory but a product of deep-seated internal wrangles within the NRM. He alleged that “invisible hands” inside the party quietly worked against him, throwing their weight behind the UPC candidate and ultimately costing him the seat.
The defeat is being described as a rare and symbolic setback for the NRM in northern Uganda, a region long considered one of Obua’s political strongholds. Political observers say the loss further exposes the growing factionalism within the ruling party, which has been blamed for several embarrassing defeats in recent elections.
Despite the controversy, Obua has ruled out filing an election petition, saying the problem goes beyond courts and ballots. Instead, he has called on top NRM leadership to carry out a serious “ground check” to assess internal coordination and loyalty within party structures.
According to Obua, failure to address these internal cracks could leave the ruling party increasingly vulnerable, even in areas it once considered politically secure.