By Frank Kamuntu
Renowned public health specialist and seasoned development practitioner, Dr. Johnson Ngorok, has officially declared his candidacy for NRM National Vice Chairperson for the Karamoja Region, vowing to uphold the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ethos and bring inclusive, transformative leadership to the party’s top organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC), for the 2025–2031 term.
With over 35 years of experience in public service, health governance, and regional development — including leadership positions at Sightsavers International, World Vision, and the Ministry of Health — Dr. Ngorok enters the race as one of the most credentialed candidates in recent NRM history. His campaign, launched under the theme “Upholding NRM Ethos”, is grounded in the four foundational principles of the NRM: Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Democracy, and Socio-economic Transformation.
“I am offering myself to contribute to the strategic leadership of our party, in pursuit of a peaceful, industrialized, and prosperous Uganda,” said Dr. Ngorok in his declaration.
He emphasized that his leadership would strengthen the CEC’s role in policy-making, foster grassroots party mobilization, and support the full realization of the 2025–2031 NRM Manifesto and Vision 2040. Among his strategic priorities are institutional reforms, boosting transparency, improving local-level party structures, and revitalizing government accountability mechanisms through a CEC scorecard and digital dashboards.
Dr. Ngorok’s manifesto presents an ambitious and deeply localized agenda for Karamoja, one of Uganda’s most historically underserved regions. His goals include:
Consolidating peace and security through community-based models.
Supporting the Karamoja Regional Development Plan (KRDP).
Strengthening cooperation with the Ministry for Karamoja Affairs.
Advocating for inclusive development and affirmative action within the CEC.
Engaging Karamoja’s intelligentsia and cultural leaders in policymaking.
He promises to champion cross-border peace cooperation with neighboring districts and nations, aligning with the region’s unique geopolitical position.
Ngorok’s campaign underscores a detailed and pragmatic approach to governance. He aims to:
Promote Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policies.
Advance youth skilling, maternal health, and inclusive education.
Strengthen investment in rural infrastructure, agro-industrialization, and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Dr. Ngorok commits to drawing from evidence-based research, community feedback, and government alignment to ensure full and timely implementation of national development strategies.
A Storied Career Of Public Service
Born in 1961, Dr. Ngorok holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Leeds. He also completed high-level training in healthcare quality assurance, development management, and tropical epidemiology from prestigious global institutions.
Notably, he served as Country Director of Sightsavers Uganda, where he led major national campaigns on neglected tropical diseases, disability inclusion, and eye health. He previously managed World Bank- and USAID-funded projects with World Vision and was the Medical Superintendent at Kaabong District Hospital, offering critical services in a region he now seeks to politically represent.
He has served on key advisory boards including the WHO African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, and chaired Uganda’s National Onchocerciasis Task Force (NOTF).
In a passionate appeal to NRM members and leaders, Dr. Ngorok stated:
“Together we will steer the NRM party to greater heights and fulfill its promise to Ugandans — a secure, united, and prosperous country.”
As the campaign heats up, Dr. Ngorok’s blend of professional gravitas, regional loyalty, and ideological commitment makes him a formidable contender for the NRM National Vice Chairperson seat for Karamoja.