Dokolo, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Sarah Aguti, representing the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party, emerges victorious as the new District Woman Member of Parliament for Dokolo, as per final results disclosed by the Uganda Electoral Commission this evening. Securing 23,044 votes, she outstripped the nearest contender from the NRM, who garnered only 14,001 votes.
In a fiercely contested by-election, Aguti triumphed over five other candidates. Notable among them were Dr. Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party nominee and daughter of the late MP, Janet Rose Adongo Elau from NRM, Harriet Ageno of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Dr. Esther Akullo Obot Otada, and Rebecca Arao, all running as independents.
The vote tallying process unfolded under stringent security measures. The Police faced challenges in countering allegations of voter bribery, ballot stuffing, and incidents of violence that erupted during the afternoon. Principally, the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) raised serious concerns.
The FDC faction accused the Dokolo security team of apprehending three of their supporters, including two personal assistants to the party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, allegedly over the theft of one million shillings at Bata Town Council on Wednesday night.
Furthermore, the party highlighted discrepancies in the Declaration of Results (DR) forms at Dokolo Primary School Polling Station and Angwecibange Polling Stations A, B, and C.
However, Moses Attan Okia, an FDC camp supervisor, remarked that the election proceeded relatively peacefully, with minor incidents.
While the UPC party voiced concerns regarding voter bribery and ballot stuffing at select polling stations, their candidate, Aguti, described the process as tranquil.
During the polling, UPC party President, Jimmy James Akena, alleged that each village received 200,000 shillings from the ruling NRM party through the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs). Nonetheless, Akena declined to provide a statement to the Police when requested.
Sebastian Oswin Oguti, the RDC of Lamwo deployed in Amwoma Sub County, dismissed opposition party complaints as mere attempts to garner undue attention.
Aguti Sarah (UPC) has been declared the winner and District Woman Representative to Parliament for Dokolo District, after scoring 23,044 votes in the by-election that was held today, Thursday 21st March 2024 pic.twitter.com/md3M8Q92nU
— Electoral Commission- Uganda (@UgandaEC) March 21, 2024
