FULL LIST: NRM dominates district elections

Martin Ojara Mapenduzi (FDC), Gulu took one of the few positions left to the opposition. Photo by Julius Ocungi.

What you need to know:

Secured. Of the 112 available district chairperson positions, NRM secured 83 seats

KAMPALA.

After securing close to 300 seats in Parliament, National Resistance Movement party yesterday continued to tighten its grip on national leadership, taking 82 of the 112 district chairperson seats.

However, an analysis of winners of the just concluded district chairperson elections shows that the Opposition maintained its strongholds such as Kampala and Gulu.

Forum for Democratic Change managed to win four from 43 candidates it fielded. However, it was only in Gulu and Ngora where it maintained leadership. The party lost grip of Kamuli after Salaam Musumba lost to NRM’s Thomas Kategere and Dokolo to, again, NRM.
It, however, managed to break new ground, ejecting NRM from Kasese and Amuru.

Elections were postponed in Kyankwanzi and Kumi districts. NRM took a knock, slumping from 92 seats.
This could have been due to the increased number of independents—there were 193 independents and 17 won.

Independent candidates could, however, increase their numbers if they beat NRM in the two districts. The Uganda Peoples Congress could also clinch one more seat, if it wins in Kumi, to add to the four they have now. The Democratic Party has only two chairpersons and Jeema one.

According to the Local Government Act, the position of district chairperson requires the occupants to monitor the general administration of the district and monitor the implementation of council decisions.

A district chairperson is also supposed to coordinate and monitor government functions as between the district and the Government and oversee the performance of persons employed by the Government to provide services in the district and to monitor the provision of Government services or the implementation of projects in the district.

NRM candidates dominate Teso LC5 seats

The ruling NRM party has retained most didtrict chairpersons’ seats in Teso sub-region but suffered defeats in Amuria and Ngora districts in Wednesday’s local council elections.
Mr Robert Erisat Okitoi (UPC) won Amuria LC5 chairman seat with 24,558 votes against his closest rival Robert Adiama (Independent) who garnered 8,369 votes.

The UPC stalwart, who is also LC5 councillor for Kapelebyong Sub-county, has been outspoken against corruption in Amuria District and the give-away of Kapelebyong and Okungur land to government.
In Ngora, incumbent Ben Eumu (FDC) retained his seat with 11,945 votes to beat Mr Emmanuel Okello (NRM), who received 10,513 votes.
Elsewhere, it was a show of NRM retaining seats in Bukedea, Serere, Soroti, Kaberamaido and Katakwi districts.

In Bukedea LC5 seat, Mr Moses Olemukan (NRM), polled 24,854 votes, beating the incumbent Wilberforce Tukei (Independent), who got 18,224 votes.

Mr Joseph Opit Okojo (NRM), retained his Serere LC5 seat with 30,466 votes while Mr Mike George Engunyu polled 25,257 and Mr Daniel Ediau Ewadu (FDC) got 18,240 votes.

Mr Albert Anthony Ejoku retained Kaberamaido District chairman seat with 19,558 votes against 11,155 votes for Victor Rex Ekesu (Independent). Mr Walter Elakas secured Katakwi District chairman seat with 20,720 votes against 15, 917 for Richard Ongorok (Independent).