Adoa bows out, Esther Lucy Acom’s Emotional Inauguration Moves Serere to Tears.
By Skika Reporter.
The swearing-in ceremony of Serere District Woman Member of Parliament, Esther Lucy Acom, turned into one of the most emotional and dramatic political moments of the week, as tears flowed freely during a deeply moving inauguration celebration attended by political leaders, family and supporters.
Acom, who officially took oath as a Member of the 12th Parliament earlier this week, began her day at Parliament where she was formally sworn in amid excitement and jubilation from supporters who had travelled from Serere District to witness what many described as “a victory against all odds.”
Dressed in elegance but visibly overwhelmed with emotion, the soft-spoken legislator later joined her family members, close allies and supporters for a thanksgiving and celebratory dinner at City Royal Resort Hotel in Bugolobi, Kampala.
What began as a cheerful evening of laughter, music and congratulatory messages soon transformed into an emotional reflection of sacrifice, struggle and perseverance.
The function attracted several prominent figures, including Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, Gogonyo County MP Hon. Derick Orone, Eng. Martin Onguruco and Alice Alaso the former Serere MP, and other notable guests who gathered to celebrate Acom’s hard-fought political journey.
However, the defining moment of the evening came when Acom rose to speak.
Fighting back tears, the newly sworn-in MP slowly walked to the front, paused for a moment, and then unexpectedly went down on her knees before the crowd.
The hall fell silent.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Acom emotionally thanked the people of Serere for believing in her despite what she described as a painful and difficult journey marked by intimidation, humiliation and life-threatening moments.
“This is not my victory,” she said emotionally. “This victory belongs to God Almighty and the people of Serere District who stood firm and believed in me. Together, we have initiated change and secured the future of our district.”
As she narrated her political journey, emotions intensified in the room. Acom revealed that during the campaigns, she endured verbal abuse, intimidation and repeated threats to her life, moments she said nearly broke her spirit.
According to Acom, there were times she doubted whether she would survive the political contest, but the trust and determination of ordinary people in Serere kept her going.
The legislator also emotionally reflected on the bitter memories surrounding the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections, describing the experience as frustrating and heartbreaking.
At one point, she broke down while recalling what she termed as injustices that denied her victory during the party process.
“I did not disobey my party, the NRM, neither did I disobey President Museveni,” Acom said. “I simply stood firm against injustice in Serere, and the people stood with me.”
Many guests, including supporters seated in the audience, were visibly emotional as some wiped tears while listening to her testimony.
Acom admitted she still struggles to believe that she had finally taken oath as Member of Parliament, saying the moment felt unreal after enduring several moments of political setbacks.
“I may never pay back everyone who trusted me,” she said while weeping, “but I promise to serve and deliver to the best of my ability.”
Acom defeated former State Minister for Fisheries Helen Adoa, who had represented the constituency for over a decade, in a race widely viewed as one of the most closely watched contests in Teso.
For many observers, Acom’s inauguration served as more than a celebration, it stood as a powerful reminder that political power ultimately rests in the hands of the people, and leaders who ignore their voices risk being voted out.
