By KT Reporter
Former Gender Minister and now Parliamentary Aspirant for Ayivu East, Zoe Bakoko Bakoru, has pledged to champion peaceful campaigns and foster unity and development across Ayivu and the wider West Nile region.
Speaking at her home in Muni village, Ayivu East, during her homecoming, thanksgiving, and campaign launch following her successful nomination for the NRM primary elections slated to begin on Tuesday, July 1st, Bakoko said her campaign would strictly be grounded in peace.
Bakoko, who was escorted home by a mammoth crowd after her Sunday nomination, emphasized that the people of Ayivu and West Nile deserve services, not violence and division, which she noted have marred past political processes in the region.
She stated that as a peacemaker, she will not tolerate violence in the elections and called on fellow aspirants to commit to peaceful engagement. Her track record, she noted, includes fostering reconciliation in the region.
Joel Ayiko, the coordinator of Bakoko’s campaigns, echoed her message, pointing out that Ayivu residents have suffered from decades of poor service delivery and now look to Bakoko’s return as a turning point for transformation.
Ayiko expressed confidence in Bakoko’s ability to unite the community and push for improved services in sectors like education, health, and infrastructure. Bakoko’s peace credentials are not new. In May 2025, she chaired a committee marking 20 years since the West Nile Bank Front signed a peace accord with the Ugandan government—a role for which she received praise from local leaders and citizens.
Some of her staunch supporters believe her extensive political experience and leadership history position her as a dependable leader capable of steering Ayivu and Arua City towards development and inclusive governance.
With the NRM primaries around the corner, concerns about possible violence have emerged, prompting appeals from stakeholders for candidates and their supporters to maintain calm and uphold democratic values throughout the campaigns-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
