OGUR SUB-COUNTY, UGANDA – In a spirited campaign launch across the villages of Teitek and Akangi in Akor Parish, retired Major Emmy Johnson Opio officially entered the race for the Erute North parliamentary seat, presenting himself as a crusader against corruption and a champion for grassroots development.
The retired army officer, addressing a gathering of local voters, immediately distinguished his campaign by taking a firm stand against graft, citing a specific case he has already acted upon.
Major Opio revealed that he has formally reported alleged corruption in the construction of the Ogur district headquarters and the mismanagement of funds meant for road projects to the Anti-Corruption Unit at State House.
“Corruption is a disease that has crippled our development," Opio stated. "My fight has already begun. I will not wait until I am in Parliament to hold the corrupt accountable."
He doubled down on his zero-tolerance stance, making a memorable pledge that resonated with the crowd: "When I am your Member of Parliament, I will ensure that no one will even steal even paracetamol from a government hospital. Every resource, no matter how small, must serve the people."
Moving beyond anti-corruption, the candidate laid out a clear, two-pronged development plan focused on agriculture and education.
To boost household incomes, Opio promised that every family in Erute North would receive cocoa and coffee seedlings sufficient to plant one acre of land. This initiative, he said, is designed to create a sustainable economic foundation for rural households.
On the education front, he addressed a critical challenge faced by government schools. "I will ensure that all government schools in Erute North have access to examinations without struggle," he declared. To achieve this, he pledged to purchase and install a printing press in Agweng Town Council, which would be dedicated to serving the educational needs of the constituency.
The campaign launch in the rural parishes signals Opio's strategy to connect directly with the electorate at the grassroots level. By combining a strong anti-graft message with tangible pledges on agriculture and education, the retired Major hopes to convince the voters of Erute North that he is the candidate best equipped to deliver integrity and development.
