OYAM, UGANDA – What began as a victory celebration quickly transformed into an emotional outpouring as Oyam Woman Member of Parliament, Santa Alum Ogwang, broke down in tears while addressing a congregation of nearly a thousand supporters on Saturday.
The thanksgiving prayer at Otwal Main Catholic Church was organized to celebrate the Kampala High Court's dismissal of an election petition against her the previous day. However, the mood shifted dramatically as the MP recounted her ordeal.
Holding aloft a large pamphlet containing the allegations from the petition, a visibly overwhelmed Alum told the congregation, "These were a lot of lies against me." She detailed the suffering she endured during the two legal battle, her voice cracking with emotion. "God helped me," she stated, before succumbing to tears, which in turn moved many of her supporters in the church to weep.
The MP took aim at the origins of the petition, questioning how the NRM Chairperson for Abok,Francis Oyuku , could facilitate its hearing. "Even the appeal against me was brought by a plane," she remarked, suggesting substantial resources were deployed against her. Alum asserted that there were "big people" behind Oyuku but credited divine intervention for her victory. "God made me win them petition," she declared.
Shifting from the past battle to the next, Alum framed the upcoming by-election on January 15, 2026, as another crucial judgement for voters. She asked them to re-elect her, "so that I can win the opponent for the third time."
Issuing a warning to fellow politicians, Alum advocated for clean politics. "When I entered politics, my hands were clean but not dirty," she said, advising others to "avoid using shadow ways of entering leadership."
The emotional event was followed by a show of force as Alum resumed her campaign trail, receiving what was described as "overwhelming support" in the sub-counties of Otwal, Ngai, and Kamdini. The scene underscored a campaign that is blending legal vindication, personal testimony, and religious faith as it heads toward a high-stakes election rematch.
