How women delivered victory for jailed Wadri

The chaotic last days of Arua Municipality by-election campaigns last night yielded a sweet victory for Kassiano Wadri who, after running a roller-coaster vote canvassing operation, was unable to cast the ballot for himself after police evacuated and detained him in Gulu Town, some 250 kilometres away.

Earlier in the day, the law enforcement agency claimed that it had recovered a gun and bullets from him, laying the ground for possible capital charges to be pressed against him.

Ms Ruth Angom, the Arua District returning officer, declared 60-year-old Wadri the MP-elect at 9.56pm and the town shortly after erupted in wild ululation with hooting boda boda riders adding to the strident noise and euphoria of the gathering crowd.

Mr Wadri garnered 6,421 votes to eclipse a crowded field of 12 candidates, soundly beating his closest challenger and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer, Ms Nusura Tiperu. She polled 4,798 votes.
Independent candidate Robert Ejiku, who spent substantial resources for a pace-setting campaign, took the third position with 2,694 votes.

Mr Bruce Musema, the Forum for Democratic Change party flag bearer, who was an early favourite going into the by-election before Wadri emerged to chip away his support, got 1,369 votes to settle for fourth position.

The eight other candidates took home insignificant votes. Businessman Jackson Atima, a failed NRM flag bearer-turned-Independent candidate, who wailed in the day over vote-rigging claims, garnered 835 votes.

Former United Nations employee Sunday Anguandia and JEEMA party candidate Jaffer Alekua polled 136 and 38 votes, respectively.

The other contestants shared the vote spoils as follows: Ex-banker Simon Avutia, 32; teacher-cum-radio presenter Alfred Nyakuni, 30; musician Kennedy Madira of DP, 26; Safi Bavuga, 19; and, nomadic election loser Elton Nyero, 18.
The Arua Municipality parliamentary seat fell vacant following the assassination on June 8, of Ibrahim Abiriga, an NRM portrait.

The last day of the campaigns exploded in a confrontation between security forces and the opposition supporters during which Yasin Kawuma, the chauffer of MP Robert Kyagulanyi, was shot dead while six others took bullet wounds.
Wadri’s victory, like the meticulous works of midwives in a labour ward, was delivered by an unparalleled campaign machinery run largely by women led by former Arua Woman MP Christine Bako Abia.

Other key members included former unsuccessful parliamentary candidate Amina Atako, FDC matriarch in Arua Martha Tiko and Arua Hill Division chairperson Nesma Ocokoru-- who planned, mobilised for and attended almost all of the candidate’s rallies.

The men who staked their support publicly early for Wadri included Kassiano Acidri, a businessman in Arua Town and 2016 NRM flag bearer for Obongi parliamentary polls; Mr Antes Asedri Oyemi, a former vice chairman of the defunct Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) II rebel group; and, Kabweri MP Francis Gonahasa.

With the demographics on his side, Wadri activated his previous political networks and in his characteristic combative mannerism run an enthralling campaign that drew on his charismatic disposition and pulled record crowds.

After his last rally, his supporters squared off with police and army in a confrontation in Arua town that the government later said was sparked by elements in pro-Wadri camp hurling stones at the motorcade of President Museveni, who was returning from addressing the final rally of NRM flag bearer Tiperu.

The Monday meltdown degenerated into the arrest of 34 people, including Wadri, four MPs, and two journalists. They were moved away in the dead of the night to Gulu town where most remain in police custody.
“[Today], we will drive to Gulu to deliver the results in the cell, although this is a sad moment for us that our candidate is in jail,” MP Gonahasa, who received Wadri’s results from EC at Arua Public Primary School tally centre, said.

What EC says
Justice Simon Byabakama, the Commission chairman, speaking during declaration of the results, said he was happy that Arua Municipality voters acted maturely to freely vote their representative to Parliament.
“Those of us who may not make it through this time, take heart,” he counselled. Candidate Nyakuni who was in the room conceded defeated and his counterpart Nyero picked his result and left without saying a word.

Mr James Eyotu, a resident in Kebir cell who voted for Wadri, said “we have passed a message to NRM and President Museveni”.
Another supporter, Mr Muzamil Mansur, declared that “victory is ours”.

Campaign manager Abia, speaking after her candidate was declared winner, said “people were tired and went to the elections to make a clear choice”.
She said: “This is the beginning of freedom. If it was money, we didn’t have the money, if it was bullets, we didn’t have the bullets.”

WADRI PROFILE
Born on September 29, 1957 in Aii-vu Sub-county, Terego
Holds Masters Degree in Social Sector Planning and Management from Makerere
Was MP for 15 years before his 2016 defeat for the Terego seat by Mr Moses Angudru, then a driver.
Wadri previously served as Opposition Chief Whip and chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee