Adjumani West candidate was not forced to step down, says Woman MP

What the report says

Adjumani Woman MP Jesca Ababiku has rejected claims that independent candidate Ben Anyama was pressured into leaving the Adjumani West parliamentary by-election, saying local leaders were shown a letter indicating that he withdrew on his own. According to Watchdog Uganda, Anyama had been running as an independent before stepping down after discussions with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also chairs the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Ababiku told journalists in Adjumani that, based on the document presented to leaders, she understood Anyama’s withdrawal to have been voluntary and supported by some of his backers. She said she would accept a different account if Anyama himself disputed that version. The MP described him as a capable leader who could still contribute to Adjumani’s development and support the NRM in other ways.

The article also says Ababiku has been campaigning for NRM flag bearer James Leku Pilli ahead of the September 17 by-election, urging residents to focus on unity and local development rather than political division. She framed the contest as an opportunity to strengthen services in the constituency.

NRM communications official Rogers Mulindwa said the party wanted the election to avoid deepening tensions in the district. He said campaign teams were active across the five sub-counties and that President Museveni was expected to visit Adjumani soon, with the party portraying the visit as part of its wider mobilization effort.