Africa-Press – Uganda. In a dramatic political upset that has jolted the West Nile region, Bernadette Chandia Kodili has defeated the Minister of State for Primary Education, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, to secure the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag for Woman Member of Parliament for Moyo District.
The NRM primary results, announced on Thursday, saw Chandia take a decisive lead with 9,136 votes (42.8%) against Moriku’s 6,308 (29.6%).
The remaining candidates, Patricia Tassas Elotu and Juliet Bayoa, trailed with minimal support.
The race was widely viewed as a referendum on the minister’s decade-long tenure and has marked a major political transition in the district.
Chandia’s victory ends Moriku’s ten-year reign in Parliament and sends a clear signal of change in Moyo’s political landscape as Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections.
“Leaders are chosen by God and through the people,” Chandia told cheering supporters. “I thank the voters for believing in me. My leadership will focus on unity, forgiveness, and uplifting the vulnerable.”
Celebrations erupted across Moyo town and surrounding communities, with many describing her win as a “victory for the people, not just politics.”
Chandia, who draws inspiration from her late father, Brig Gen Mark Ayiasi Kodili, a revered military officer, emphasized that education would remain central to her leadership.
“He was a loving father who valued education above all. Even with limited means, he ensured all his children reached university,” she recalled at his funeral in 2022.
During her campaign, Chandia pledged to prioritize educational reform, expand access for girls, and improve school infrastructure in rural areas of Moyo.
Her message resonated with voters, particularly in underserved communities.
Chandia first entered politics in 2021 as an independent candidate and earned 2,734 votes—far from winning, but enough to establish her as a bold, grassroots-focused leader.
“What we began in 2021, the people have now finished in 2024,” said a supporter at the NRM office. “This is not just a win—it is justice for forgotten communities.”
Outside politics, Chandia is known as an advocate for gender justice, youth empowerment, and climate action.
As a member of ActionAid International’s Global Youth Network, she has championed sustainable livelihoods and skills development.
“We need to create a generation of job creators, not job seekers,” she said during her campaign. “That begins with skills, education, and trust in our youth.”
Despite the wide margin, Dr Moriku’s camp expressed dissatisfaction with the process. In a brief radio interview, the minister alleged irregularities and said her legal team was reviewing the vote.
However, no official petition had been filed by press time.
Chandia’s chief campaign agent, Emmanuel Bada Nunu, dismissed the complaints and attributed their win to deep community engagement.
“Chandia has been with the people—at weddings, funerals, community meetings. She listens, and that’s why the people listened to her,” he said.
With the NRM flag now in hand, Benadette Chandia Kodili heads into the 2026 general elections as the frontrunner for the Moyo Woman MP seat.
Her campaign promises people-centered leadership, education reform, and grassroots-driven development.
For many in Moyo, her victory represents more than just a change in leadership—it is a generational shift and a resounding call for political renewal.
Source: Nilepost News
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