Critics have blamed incumbent Member of Parliament for Ajuri County Denis Hamson Obua election loss on his ‘bossy and proud demeanour’.
Mr Obua, who is also the Government Chief Whip, lost the seat to Fred Jalameso of the Opposition Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party. Nicknamed ‘God the Son’ by his supporters, Obua was widely considered unbeatable, but Jalameso’s grassroots campaign focusing on rural poverty and infrastructure gaps resonated with voters.
Mr Jalameso, a teacher by profession, campaigned under the slogan “Ajuri’s Candle Light,” and targeted Obua’s traditional strongholds, highlighting issues like deteriorating roads and poor sanitation. The first results announced on January 15, showed Mr Jalameso leading with 14,321 votes from 160 of 178 polling stations. Following a complaint by Jalameso citing discrepancies in 18 polling stations, the Electoral Commission ordered a re-run, which was held on Tuesday.
Jalameso was eventually declared the winner with 16,336 votes, while Obua got 15,568. Obua held the position since 2011.
The Government Chief Whip conceded defeat and congratulated Jalameso on his win. He thanked the people of Ajuri County for granting him the opportunity to serve them. ‘For the next five years, I pledge to continue serving my country – Uganda, my NRM [National Resistance Movement] party, and the people of northern Uganda, Lango and Ajuri outside elective politics,’ Mr Obua said, adding: ‘I wish to congratulate the newly elected MP for Ajuri County. Good luck in service.’
Critics say Obua didn’t serve them well, accusing him of failing to highlight their concerns in Parliament. They add that the voters felt neglected. Eric Don, a concerned party, said: ‘We should master the art of being a government big shot while maintaining humility. That’s exactly what Obua failed to master. In fact, I think he would instead exaggerate his security details when visiting home.’
Another critic only identified as Tonny remarked: ‘It’s sad that their appointments have not helped anybody.’ Mr Jalameso said despite the incumbent’s high position, Alebtong and the wider Lango Sub-region have remained marginalised, particularly regarding road infrastructure coverage. Lira City Council speaker Patrick Okwir said: ‘I’m sad that we lost two senior political leaders in Lango, Obua and Ms Betty Amongi. We might blame the government if our sons and daughters are not appointed to Cabinet positions.’ Amongi, the incumbent Oyam South MP, also Gender minister, attempted to uproot Dr Jane Ruth Aceng (NRM) from Lira City Woman parliamentary seat but lost the battle.
Mr Jalameso said the constituency has one under-resourced health centre IV, inadequate drugs, and poor education. Only 14 pupils from Ajuri County passed in Division One in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) . Jalameso said he intends to lobby for the upgrade of Alebtong Health Centre IV to a fully-fledged hospital in addition to ensuring drug supply and basic requirements in health facilities. He added that he plans to reverse the poor performance in PLE, close the gap left by the outgoing MP, enact laws that favour citizens, and oppose any legislation that ‘ties ropes around the necks of Ugandans.’
In the area of infrastructure and relief, the MP-elect pledges to address Lango’s low tarmac coverage and provide effective representation for flood victims. Addressing questions about replacing a powerful figure like the Government Chief Whip, Mr Jalameso emphasised that political ranks do not equate to effective service delivery. He asserted that despite the incumbent’s high government position, Alebtong and the wider Lango Sub-region have remained marginalised, particularly regarding road infrastructure coverage.
The MP-elect framed his leadership philosophy around biblical principles of humility and love for the people, saying that the previous leadership lacked the necessary ‘heart’ for the community. ‘However powerful you are… if you don’t have the heart for the people, you cannot do anything. His (Obua’s) shoes could be smaller than mine,’ he said, adding that the voters recognised this disconnect and were ready for a ‘wind of change’ facilitated by the UPC.