By Our Reporter 

Pingire, Serere District - Philip Oucor, the former National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for Serere County, has officially entered the race for the Pingire County parliamentary seat, setting the stage for a heated NRM primary ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections.

Oucor was duly nominated on Tuesday at the NRM offices in Serere District. The nomination marks a pivotal shift in his political strategy as he seeks new ground in one of Teso sub-region’s most politically competitive constituencies.

"Nomination done and dusted. Yooo Leng to making Pingire great!" Oucor declared confidently after his nomination.

Oucor's political journey has been shaped by determination and resilience. In the 2021 general elections, he lost the Serere County seat to the late Hon. Patrick Okabe, an independent candidate. Following Okabe’s tragic passing in a road accident in December 2022, Oucor contested in the 2023 by-election with NRM’s endorsement but was defeated by Okabe’s son, Emmanuel Omoding, who ran as an independent.

The back-to-back losses prompted Oucor to pivot his focus to Pingire County—an area he now hopes will embrace his message of youth empowerment, service delivery, and infrastructural transformation.

In Pingire, Oucor joins a crowded race featuring several formidable contenders within the NRM, including incumbent MP Fred Opolot, Charles Abuka, Moses Ojiit, and at least five other aspirants. The primary contest is expected to be fiercely contested, with high stakes for the ruling party as it looks to maintain strongholds amidst rising opposition and independent influence in Serere District.

MP Opolot, a seasoned public servant with strong ties across the region, is anticipated to mount a solid defense of his seat. However, political analysts argue that Oucor’s name recognition, media expertise, and communication skills could tilt the scales—provided he manages to win the trust of Pingire’s grassroots voters.

Oucor’s entry is already shifting political dynamics within the NRM, with speculation that his candidacy could split the vote or force strategic alliances within the party. He brings with him a reputation as a vocal advocate for youth and development issues, though critics argue that he must first prove his connection and commitment to the Pingire electorate.

His political rebranding may face scrutiny, but his determination appears undeterred.

As the NRM gears up for internal primaries across the country, Pingire County is expected to be one of the most closely watched battlegrounds. Whether Oucor’s third attempt at Parliament—this time in a different constituency—will succeed remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: he is not giving up.

“Yooo Leng to making Pingire great!” — a slogan that now carries the weight of reinvention, ambition, and political redemption.