APAC, UGANDA — When Talib Okabo assumed office as the NRM District Chairperson for Apac in 2016, the political landscape was a starkly different picture. The district was firmly in the grip of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), with giants like Lucy Ajok as Woman MP, Maxwell Akora as Maruzi County MP, and Bob Okae as District Chairperson . It was a UPC stronghold where the ruling party's yellow colours were barely visible.
Fast forward ten years, and the story could not be more different. Under Okabo's stewardship, the NRM has not just broken the UPC's stranglehold—it has completely reshaped the political map. The 2026 general elections saw the NRM sweep over 90% of the seats in Apac, a feat that political analysts are calling one of the most impressive political turnarounds in the country .
"The fruits of our hard work are there for everyone to see. We built a team that worked together from the grassroots to the top," Okabo told our reporter during an interview, reflecting on the party's journey.
Okabo's mission began in 2016 with a clear target: the Woman MP seat. That year, he rallied the party to ensure Betty Engola was elected, ending UPC's dominance in that position . His term was extended by the NRM CEC due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Okabo did not relent. He doubled down on grassroots mobilisation, ensuring Engola's re-election in 2021 and creating a foundation that would bear fruit in 2026.
The 2026 results are a testament to that strategy. The NRM secured the LC5 Chairperson seat with Ambrose Agec, defeating the incumbent Asante Odongo for the first time in history . In Maruzi North, a traditional UPC stronghold, the party elected Bernard Otim Odoc . Maclean Bonny Odongo took the Mayor's seat in Apac Municipality, and out of 12 sub-counties, the NRM now controls nine .
However, Okabo's success has not come without challenges. Sources within the party reveal that there are elements, both internal and external, working to frustrate the party's progress.
"A few party members in Apac Municipality, Apoi, and Akokoro are creating friction," a highly placed source told us. "These individuals, who never contributed to the struggle that delivered candidates like Moses Opeto, are now fighting the chairman."
According to the source, some of these disgruntled members are being used by the UPC, who are desperate to disorganize the NRM ahead of a possible comeback in 2031.
Despite this, Okabo is still in the heart of NRM supporters at the grassroots and national level
The numbers in Apac speak volumes. The NRM now holds the District LC5, Woman MP, Maruzi North MP, and the Municipal Mayor, alongside the majority of councilors in both the district and municipality . This represents the biggest political record ever set in a district that was once considered the impenetrable home of the opposition UPC.
As the LC1 elections approach, the party is setting its sights on a 95% victory. "We will work hard to ensure the NRM gets more than 95% of the positions," Okabo's supporters have declared, signalling an intent to consolidate their gains.
For many supporters and leaders in Apac, Talib Okabo is the "strength of NRM" and deserves national recognition and awards for his strategic mind, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the party's ideals. He has not only turned Apac yellow but has laid the groundwork for a generation of NRM leaders who will continue to serve the people of this district for decades to come.
