Opposition wins Amuru woman MP by-election

IPC's Lucy Akello (with handbag)celebrating her victory with her supporters at EC officers in Gulu. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OKELLO

What you need to know:

Amuru woman MP seat fell vacant when the incumbent Ms Betty Atuku Bigombe, resigned after she secured a job with World Bank late this year

The opposition candidate under the umbrella Interparty Coalition, Ms Lucy Akello has emerged winner in the just concluded Amuru Woman Member of Parliament by-election.
Ms Akello was on Thursday night declared winner after she garnered 7,420 votes beating her closest rival Ms Jane Frances Amongin Okili, who contested on NRM ticket and got 6701 votes.
Other contestants Acan Pauline- Independent got 775votes; Suzan Adokorach Bwot- Conservative Party got 300 votes while Caroline Aber garnered 146 votes out of the total 15,342 vote casted.
Ms Akello in her maiden speech told Daily Monitor, that she is happy to have been chosen by the people of Amuru district.
She noted that she will work towards bringing development and prosperity to the people of Amuru who have shown trust in her.
“Am delighted to be entrusted by the people of Amuru to lead them in promoting development in the district,” she said.
Registrar Amuru Electoral Commission, Mr Sam Olet, said the elections were free and fair and all the parties that competed in the election process should know that the process was not only done by EC, but other stakeholders inclusive.
The electoral commission Chairman Mr Badru Kigundu who was present
during the tallying and announcement of the election results expressed his gratitude over the peaceful elections and asked Ms Akello to work along the footstep of Ms Betty
Atuku Bigombe the former MP.
NRM Chairperson Amuru district, Juma Labong, however said the NRM did not lose out in the by election, but instead pointed an accusatory fingers at the electoral Commission.
“We had a strong candidate on the ground, we were winning in most of the sub counties, but all of a sudden the results turned against us,” he said.
Amuru woman MP seat fell vacant when the incumbent Ms Betty Atuku Bigombe, resigned after she secured a job with World Bank early this year.