AMURIA.A day after parliamentary campaigns kicked off across the country, the Amuria County MP in Amuria District , Musa Ecweru, has withdrawn from the race.
Ecweru, also state minister for works who was nominated by the Electoral Commission as an independent candidate after being defeated by secondary school teacher Samuel Ediau in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary election in July this year, made his decision known on Tuesday (November 11).
Ediau, formerly a member of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), won the NRM flag after securing 29,352 votes against Ecweru’s 19,977.
Ecweru claimed that the election was rigged and petitioned the party tribunal; however, he declined to defend his petition, which led to the confirmation of Ediau as the NRM flag bearer for Amuria County.
After being nominated, Ecweru picked the symbol of a vehicle, but to the surprise of his supporters, he has now withdrawn from the race.
“After consultation with my NRM party leaders, my agents and my personal reflection, I have decided to withdraw from the parliamentary race for Amuria,” Ecweru said in a letter dated November 9, 2025, and addressed to the returning officer of Amuria District.
His official agent, Nathan Okiror, and two other agents, Moses Omuron and Simon Peter Osilo, endorsed his withdrawal from the race.
Okiror delivered the letter on Tuesday to the Electoral Commission’s returning office in Amuria, and the commission stamped it to confirm receipt.
Ecweru is expected to address the press to explain further to his electorate, who had supported his independent candidature.
The letter was also copied to the NRM chairperson, President Yoweri Museveni, and the party secretary general.