Related Articles
BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA CITY: THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025
It was a seismic moment on Wednesday as hundreds of young men and women on motorcycles rounded up Arua City before proceeding to receive Eng William Tiyo Odaa from Arua Airfield shortly after disembarking the Eagle air.
Eng Tiyo was returning from Kampala following a successful nomination as a candidate to contest for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer in the parliamentary elections in Ayivu East Constituency.
Then hour’s long drive ensued through parts of the defunct Manibe and Aroi sub-counties that culminated into seven rallies in seven villages.
“I have been declared as the poorest contestant by some opponents. I have not come to give you money,” said Eng Tiyo.
“I will also not slaughter for you a cow because my name is Tiyo (meaning I have no cow),”
he added to shouts of “we want development, not meat.”
It was a signature declaration at each of the stops on the campaign trail that attracted deafening applause from the crowd.
Slaughtering of cows and dishing out of financial handouts to influence voting is often cited as a nefarious and manipulative practice denting the reputation of Uganda’s electoral process.
Unsurprisingly, there are early accusations of similar practice to corrupt the NRM’s primary polls in Ayivu constituency with some candidates said to be displaying their financial might.
In response, one resident Scolastica Avako, who is also the area woman councilor told the people to vote consciously, saying that “when your neighbor is cooking meat, you do not take your beans off the oven, otherwise you will sleep hungry with your children.”
From the former Oluko sub county, Simon Agara adde that “in Eng Tiyo, we are following something good that can bring development to Ayivu. This is why we have ignored candidates from Oluko.”
Eng Tiyo said his candidature was a response to community’s call for him to stand for the position of Ayivu East Constituency MP which has attracted about four candidates.
However, some of the candidates have come with filthy records of allegations of grand corruption while holding important public offices in the past and others are wrought with resentments from sections of the public who dismiss them as arrogant demagogues who ignore their voices.
“Should you, by the grace of God, give me the mandate to represent you as an MP, I will perform the written functions of that office- to legislate, budget and play an oversight role. But I will also perform the unwritten function to celebrate joyful moments and mourn in sorrowful times together with you like I have been doing when I have been a civil servant,” Eng Tiyo clarified.
For over 20 years, Eng Tiyo has worked in Arua district in various capacities including engineering assistant, district water engineer and eventually district engineer.
This was before Arua district splintered into many other districts including Arua city.
He pointed out many projects especially bridges and safe water projects which he said were result of his careful application of creative though process to identify opportunities within the government and private sector to serve community needs.
“As a member of parliament, I will have more capacity to bring development to you,” he passionately declared.
Unlike a typical Ugandan politician who would make a litany of promises in a campaign rally, Eng Tiyo declined to make specific pledges to the people, saying that he will ask them to tell him what he should do for them because as voters they know their own problems.
He said if the people tell him that their problem needs tents, plastic chairs or funding to strengthen village savings and loan associations, he will gladly extend his financial support knowing that the people will own such initiatives drive by their own passion.
“Some politicians want to think for the people when they are elected into that office of an MP as if the people who elected them are stupid,” contests Eng Tiyo.
“When I was for primary education at Aliba Primary school, one of our English expressions was that ‘I know more should be abolished’,” Tiyo said.
Engineer, I have seen your footsteps before declaring your candidature for the seat.
Arivu Chapel design and plastering, roadworks, bridges, spring protection etc etc.
I was a Production staff with ADLG by then but currently retired
Am based at Jiako and a voter of Ayivu East Constituency.
Fully behind you