Former Kioga County Mp Moses Okot Bitek makes political shift toward PLU
POLITICS
AMOLATAR/KAMPALA I Former Kioga County Member of Parliament Moses Junior Okot Bitek has emerged as a notable figure in the changing political landscape in Lango after moving away from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and becoming associated with the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
Okot Bitek, a lawyer and politician, represented Kioga County in the 11th Parliament after winning the 2021 general election on the FDC ticket. The FDC’s own records continue to list him among its members and identify him as its Secretary for Legal, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, reflecting his prominent role in the opposition party.
His political journey has, however, increasingly placed him in the middle of Uganda’s rapidly shifting political alignments ahead of and following the 2026 elections.
from opposition politics to a new political alignment
Okot Bitek’s departure from the traditional opposition camp is particularly significant because of his previous standing within FDC.
During the 11th Parliament, he was not simply an ordinary opposition legislator. In March 2022, he was selected by opposition MPs as their joint candidate for Deputy Speaker of Parliament. He eventually lost the contest to NRM’s Thomas Tayebwa, polling 82 votes against Tayebwa’s 379.
His rise within opposition politics was also rooted in his legal and human-rights activism, including his involvement in issues affecting fishing communities around Lake Kyoga.
However, his relationship with opposition politics became increasingly complicated as the 2026 political season approached.
In one highly publicised incident, Okot attended President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign rally in Amolatar despite being an FDC legislator. New Vision reported that his appearance at the rally surprised many because FDC had generally kept away from such ruling-party campaign events. Okot defended his attendance as part of what he described as political liberalism.
defeat in the 2026 election
Another major turning point came during the 2026 parliamentary elections, when Okot Bitek failed to retain the Kioga County seat.
Reports indicate that he was defeated by UPC candidate Collins Angwech, ending his five-year tenure as the constituency’s representative.
A May 2026 report on MPs’ positions on the Sovereignty Bill identified Okot as an FDC MP representing Kioga County and noted that he had been defeated in the January 15 election.
His defeat came at a time when several opposition politicians were reconsidering their political affiliations and future strategies.
association with PLU
Against this background, Okot Bitek’s subsequent association with Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has attracted attention, particularly in Lango where his political career has given him an established constituency and regional profile.
The development is also notable because Okot previously expressed strong criticism of PLU. In an earlier televised discussion, he was quoted by NBS as saying that “the Patriotic League of Uganda is dead on arrival.”
His subsequent political association with the organisation therefore represents a significant change from his earlier position and is likely to fuel debate among political observers and his former supporters.
The shift also illustrates the fluidity of Ugandan politics, where political actors who previously opposed particular formations can later realign as political circumstances change.
what the move means for PLU politics
For PLU, attracting a politician with Okot Bitek’s background could strengthen its presence in the Lango sub-region.
Okot brings experience from Parliament, opposition politics, legal practice and grassroots mobilisation. He also served on key parliamentary committees, including Defence and Internal Affairs and Human Rights, during the 11th Parliament.
For the former MP, the move could provide a new political platform following his defeat in Kioga County and his departure from the mainstream FDC structure.
It also comes as PLU continues attempting to establish itself as an influential political force around Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his supporters.
a political journey marked by major shifts
Okot Bitek’s political career has previously included confrontations with security forces and high-profile opposition activism. Before entering Parliament, he was involved in political and human-rights activism, particularly around fishing communities.
His political profile rose considerably after his election to Parliament in 2021. He later became the opposition’s joint candidate for Deputy Speaker, placing him among the more visible opposition legislators of the 11th Parliament.
He also remained active in FDC’s legal and constitutional affairs, with the party’s current records listing him as its Secretary for Legal, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs.
His subsequent movement toward PLU therefore marks a considerable political transformation—from an opposition legislator who once criticised the organisation to a politician now associated with the same political formation.
wider political significance
The development comes amid broader movement of politicians across Uganda’s political divide.
Several former opposition politicians have changed parties or political alliances in the period surrounding the 2026 elections. One report tracking these movements listed Okot Bitek among politicians who had moved away from FDC, alongside other opposition figures who shifted toward different political formations.
For Lango, where FDC, UPC, NRM and other political formations have traditionally competed for influence, Okot Bitek’s latest political alignment could become an important factor in determining how PLU builds its grassroots structures in the region.
For now, the key political question is whether Okot Bitek’s association with PLU will develop into a formal leadership role and whether he will use the platform to make a return to elective politics.
Amolatar NewsCast will continue following the former Kioga MP’s political transition and any official announcement concerning his role within PLU.
