Kampala – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has officially unveiled Emmanuel Eratu as their candidate for the Serere County parliamentary by-election.
Eratu was unveiled on Monday during the party’s weekly press briefing at the FDC headquarters in Najjanakumbi, Kampala.
“We know Emmanuel Eratu as a seasoned politician and an outstanding citizen of good character who has the capabilities of transformative legislation in the national assembly,” said Patrick Amuriat Oboi while unveiling Eratu.
Eratu who previously was FDC leaning independent was on Monday also officially welcomed to the party.
The Serere County parliamentary seat fell vacant after the tragic death of Bishop Patrick Okabe, who died alongside his wife Christine Okabe in a car crash along the Mbale-Tirinyi highway last month.
Okabe’s son Emmanuel Omoding, said recently that he will contest for the seat as an independent candidate following the struggle for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag .
In the 2020 party primaries, Phillip Oucor was elected the NRM candidate after defeating, the late Patrick Okabe. Okabe contested for the 2021 general elections on an independent ticket which he won.
After the death of Okabe, several NRM leaders backed Omoding to replace his father.
Other aspirants who have expressed interest to contest in the by-election include Alice Alaso Asianut of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and Martin Onguruco, an Independent among others.
The Electoral Commission set February 23, 2023, as the polling date for the by-election.