President Yoweri Museveni has given the green light for Ofwono Opondo, Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, to enter elective politics, Daily Star has learned.
Last month, Opondo officially resigned from his position, announcing his intention to contest in the 2026 general elections.
“Last evening at State House Nakasero, I met President Yoweri Museveni, and he approved my candidacy for the Eastern Region Older Persons seat in the 12th Parliament,” Opondo stated.
He further revealed that he has secured endorsements from several prominent figures, including Hajji Moses Kigongo, former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Defense Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth, and NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda, Capt. Mike Mukula, among others.
Opondo’s resignation comes just two months before the expiration of his current three-year term. Appointed in 2013 to succeed Fred Opolot, he has served in the role under successive renewable contracts for over a decade.
Sources indicate that Opondo will vie for the newly created Eastern Uganda Elderly MP seat in the 2026–2031 parliamentary term.
“I was appointed Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on July 1, 2013. It has been a fulfilling 12 years,” he reflected.
Before heading the Media Centre, Opondo served as Director of Information and Public Relations at the Movement Secretariat starting in 2002, succeeding Winnie Byanyima. Since 2003, he has also acted as spokesperson for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), playing key roles in Museveni’s election campaigns from 2001 to 2016.
