Lira Mayoral Candidate Awor Angweri Decries Lack of Women, Northern Representation in 2026 Presidential Race

By Denish Ongora

Lira City Council mayoral candidate, Sarah Awor Angweri, has expressed deep disappointment over the absence of women and representatives from Northern Uganda among the presidential candidates nominated for the 2026 general elections.

Speaking shortly after the Electoral Commission concluded the nomination exercise yesterday, Awor Angweri lamented that no woman was cleared to contest for the presidency, a development she said undermines the advancement of women’s leadership and agenda in the country.

Awor said she had hoped that women would come forward to promote the women’s agenda and showcase a different style of leadership—one free from the corruption often associated with male leaders.

Awor attributed the low participation of women in politics to persistent barriers such as fear, intimidation by male counterparts, and financial constraints.

She further expressed frustration over the disqualification of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party president, Jimmy Akena—the only presidential hopeful from Northern Uganda—by the Electoral Commission.

She noted that if she had known that Akena would not be in the race, she would have considered contesting for the presidency herself, regretting the missed opportunity to represent both women and Northern Uganda at the national level.

The Electoral Commission concluded the presidential nomination process for the 2026 elections on Tuesday, with no woman making it onto the final list of contenders for the country’s highest office.

The Electoral Commission confirmed that seven men, including long-time incumbent Yoweri Museveni, have been nominated — marking the first all-male presidential race in decades.

In 2001, Miria Obote, widow of former President Milton Obote, made history by running against Museveni.

Her candidacy paved the way for other women like Beti Kamya and Maureen Kyalya in 2016, and Nancy Kalembe in 2021 — all of whom brought visibility to women’s political leadership despite poor electoral outcomes.

In 2026, however, both Kyalya and Kalembe reportedly attempted to run again but failed to meet nomination requirements.

Kamya, now the IGG, is no longer pursuing the presidency.