In that respect, soon or later the grass in Koboko county will be suffering as two big political elephants (tomea lomoro) will unfold their plans into a full open arena to do real battle for 2026 parliamentary election.
Right now many names of fringe politicians are said to be eyeing for Koboko county seat, but without mincing their words about where their tents can be pitched, voters seems to be having a binary choice between Emmanuel Banya Natal the Muni University Secretary and Hajjat Medina Naham the Director for Finance and Administration at NRM Secretariat for Koboko county parliamentary candidate in 2026 election as the current occupier Baba James reportedly indicated his readiness not to contest any more.
In Koboko district the two personalities, Emmanuel Banya Natal and Medina Nahan are considered as oracle of development as both of them have done much developmental work in the district.
Words of some opinions about the two: "ngazi kilo a'ti Koboko, temezi ti Koboko kilo aruko ki ko i lobure-lobure, Medina akita NRM chairperson, Banya bila do akita aa town clerk", literally meaning these are children of Koboko, elders have accepted them to go for the election because Medina did some work as NRM chairperson and Banya also worked when he was the town clerk.
Expressive, bold, Banya seems not intimidated with Medina who is a political firment in the district who has a commanding influence on the vast majority of the NRM officials in the district who might facilitate victory for her as flag bearer of the party which might be albatross if it happens in that way and this might be true as she has resources to mobilise support and get logistics that will help her actualise her ambition, coupled with the fact that she is the one responsible for their allowences.
However, Banya who is highly relying on his connection with the farmers to mobilise supporters and rally the masses to vote for him in the election is not fidgeting over the fact that he is new to the political turf as he hopes to beat seasoned campaigners in the election.
He is banking on his contributions as private person which he used to help people in the constituency than those who have been in elective positions or appointed positions, who have failed the people of Koboko greatly.
He has already started crisscrossing to electrify his intentions, and racking up endorsements from key personalities and groups in Koboko county, though his train is moving at 45 speed, letting the people into his manifesto and showing what they stand to benefit if he is elected as Member of Parliament for Koboko county in 2026 election because he is passionate about providing clean water and other projects for the people.
While some supporters of Medina described her as a true Kakwa girl and hope that she will carry out projects that will have an impact on the lives of the people in Koboko if she gets elected, but some of her friends denied that she is campaigning.
Words of Medina's friend: "Am Medina's friend and she has not told me that she is contesting but what I know, she is implementing some programmes of the NRM in the district".
Unlike Maracha where consultation is capital-intensive endeavour, but the KK children are too clever so far at the moment with their consultations,, they are not throwing out their money anyhow. Anyway time will tell if this money-saving technique will remain the same when the election season draws near.
Aside from their solid footings in the district, politics in Koboko district is complicated unpredictable as it's based on family background and this doesn't imply that the probability of a dark horse will be zero. Unexpected is expected to happen as the former LC5 chairman for Koboko district Hassan Ngina who is an indigene of Kuluba a grassroot politician with tentacles spread in all the sub counties is also contemplating to throw his hat in the contest.
But the interesting thing about the present politics in Koboko is that, ' Lugbari kilo, Kakwa diki is nolonger applicable, as it used to happen in the past elections,. it is now based on solving simple equation which exactly Hassan might apply to fail his long time friend Banya who is new in the murky waters of Koboko politics, especially election contests and also his cousin sister.
Perennial Ronald Baiga is also not a pushover, his footprints in the last election as kana awara can fetch him huge votes as some feelers in the district disenchanted with the NRM are surreptitiously working for him.
The race is promising to be fierce contest with alot of intrigues and hoodlums expected to disrupt NRM party primary election and it will be closely followed.
Osman Draga Brahan
