Related Articles
BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA: THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026
“What did you expect?” she quipped boastfully. That was the opening teaser from Hajjat Medina Mohammad Naham, the director of finance of the National Resistance Movement.
She spoke shortly after the declaration of Challa Elma Kapel, the youth member of parliament elect for Northern Uganda 2026 to 2031.
As she revealed in the confidence of a victor, Medina went on to assert that after delivering a massive win of over 71% for President Yoweri Museven who is also the national chairman of the NRM, the writing was on the wall for all to see.
She said it was therefore not a surprise that the youth delegates in Northern Uganda have elected as their MP the former Miss Tourism Uganda who bring in the energy and vibe of leadership that is needed to represent the interests of the young people.
Kapel is a graduate of global business management and masters of Science in logistics management and supply chain.
She represented the tourism sector of Uganda in 2017 to 2018, contributing to the flourishing of the sector through marketing before the Covid Pandemic setback.
She comes as the first youth members of parliament for northern Uganda from the Karamoja sub-region after garnering 1, 245 votes, defeating in the process a formidable opponent in Elizabeth Waca Shakira of the Uganda People’s Congress who came second with 343 votes.
The Democratic Party’s Elizabeth Amolo who lost steam along the campaign trail though obtained eight votes to her consolation to wrap-up the contest in which five votes were considered invalid.
“Understanding the issues of our youths is not just about social media, it is about establishing real working connection with them, getting to know them personally,” Kapel maintained.
This is a necessary tenet for consultative leadership, she said, adding that the youths need skilling and value addition to come out of the current predicament.
She proposed establishment of a skilling hub in Karenga district in the extreme North-eastern Uganda and processing and preservation of ‘Onangnang,’ a unique fish product of Pakwach district.
Kapel emphasized that the youth also need to be mobilized and encouraged to drop the obsolete idea of looking at agriculture as a dirty job and begin farming as commercial enterprise.
To that, medina added: “the Parish development Model funding which the government is doubling to sh200m per parish is something everybody should support regardless of political party belonging.”
She congratulated Kapel who she said mobilized the youth delegates of the entire northern Uganda to participate in the college vote.
“Her success is a result of hard work of traversing the region for the past several months,” Hajjat Medina commented as she thanked the people of Northern Uganda for entrusting the NRM with the leadership of the young people once again.
She revealed that NRM was overwhelmed with the good news of all round wins coming all over the country as the ruling party captured all the four seats.
That shows to those who still doubt that young Ugandans believe in the leadership of NRM and president Museveni.
“Thank you Uganda for entrusting us with this responsibility and the leadership we will offer will be the leadership that benefits every citizen,” said Hajjat Medina. So, what did you expect?
