On Tuesday, Obete declared Lumumba elected with 2,636 votes while Ogwette came second with 2,594 votes. This prompted dozens of Ogwette’s supporters and DP leaders led by the Gulu Municipality Member of parliament, Lyandro Komakech to lead a procession in the streets of Gulu City.
Democratic Party (DP) leaders and supporters in Gulu city
are protesting the Bardege-Layibi Division Mayoral election results. They accused
the Gulu City Registrar, Benson Obete of altering the poll results of their
candidate, George Ogwette in favor of his Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party
rival, Patrick Oola Lumumba.
On Tuesday, Obete declared Lumumba elected with 2,636 votes
while Ogwette came second with 2,594 votes. This prompted dozens of Ogwette’s supporters
and DP leaders led by the Gulu Municipality Member of parliament, Lyandro
Komakech to lead a procession in the streets of Gulu City.
The protesters held placards alleging that the tallying
process was marred with irregularities, bribery and rigging by the electoral
officials in favor of Lumumba. Simon Peter Opoka, the Democratic Party
National Vice Chairperson, said they are discontented with the results and
demand a vote recount to prove whether their candidate lost the polls genuinely.
Opoka disclosed that they have already contacted their legal
team to apply formally for a vote recount as required by law. Ogwette on the
other hand claims that Obete was bribed by FDC party officials to alter the
poll results in favor of their candidate.
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He also told URN that the presence of security personnel at
the tallying Centre was an indication that some fraudulent acts were taking
place. Shamim Aber, one of Ogwette`s supporters, says that she was at the
tallying center during the vote counting and was unhappy with Obete’s
movements.
Obete has denied all the allegations leveled against him and advised those
contesting the poll results to petition the courts of law. Lumumba, who also
doubles as the Gulu City FDC chairperson, says he is ready to face his opponent
in court to defend his victory.
The Bardege-Layibi Division mayoral race
attracted eight candidates. The others are Alfred Oluba, Denis Okello Oweka,
Richard Odokonyero, Michael Okeny and Walter Aaron Onekalit.
Emmy Daniel Ojara is a young journalist and has been practicing since 2013, during which he covered land rights violation in the contested Apaa and Lakang in Amuru as his first take ups while at Gulu Fm, Favor Fm and later Paidha Fm and Speak Fm where he is still attached.
Human rights abuses and denied access to land by security and government agencies has been the major aftermath of the contest over the lands. The underprivileged such as women, children and the elderly faced challenges in accessing soc
