By Ouni Jaspher
DOKOLO – Over 10,000 people on Saturday thronged Alwar Village, Ajiba Parish, Adeknino Sub County in Dokolo District for a thanksgiving prayer organized by Vincent Opito, the Dokolo South MP of the 12th Parliament.
The event was filled with songs by different political musicians, including Wegel Odur, Gycyclence Igwe, Rap Jaguar, praising Opito’s political victory.
In the election results declared on January 16, 2026 by District Returning Officer Denis Otim, Dokolo South ousted six-term and Uganda’s longest-serving MP, citing “nothing done.” Voters said they had opted for new, educated leadership to address past failures.
In the vote count, Vincent Opito won decisively with 18,024 votes against Okot Ogong’s 11,161 votes.
Speaking during the thanksgiving prayer, Fred Ebil Ebil, the UPC Party Secretary General, who represented UPC President Jimmy James Michael Akena Obote, confirmed that the party will award Dokolo South MP Vincent Opito for defeating a man who had been in Parliament for 30 years.
Ebil thanked voters of Dokolo South for making the decision to change leadership after a decade he said had not met voters’ expectations.
Commenting on the forthcoming LCs and Women Council elections, Ebil asked the community to rally behind UPC candidates, especially those with a good agenda.
Ebil announced that the party has table a proposal to remove the presidential term limit during a virtual meeting of the UPC National Council.
Accirding to Ebil, the proposal was supported by members who believed it would ensure continued leadership and strengthen the party for future elections.
Addressing the crowd of over 10,000, Opito thanked everyone for their efforts that made him an MP.
“When I was hunting for the lion, hyenas and all other birds that survive on meat were busy waiting to see if I could kill the lion or if the lion would kill me so that they could come for the meat. But now that I have killed the lion, I am requesting everyone not to think about the lion now, but to think about the one who killed the lion,” Opito explained in proverbs.
He promised to use his new five-year term to advocate for better service delivery, infrastructure development, and programs that would improve the lives and incomes of his constituents.
Opito also addressed rumors circulating on social media that he had moved from UPC to the NRM. He strongly refuted these claims, stating that he remains a loyal member of UPC and that the rumors were politically motivated and intended to cause confusion among his supporters.
Meanwhile, Patrick Ogwang Obura, Chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group and MP for Oyam South, called for unity among leaders in the region to focus on development priorities.
Former Deputy Inspector General of Police Julius Peter Ocur Odwee said Opito’s 10-year attempt to lead Dokolo South was driven by faith.
He asked the community to always have faith and pledged to offer himself as chief advisor to Dokolo South MP Vincent Opito.
The function was graced by Members of Parliament, OBs and OGs, local leaders, cultural leaders and voters from different political parties, among others.
