Excitement is brewing among electorates, especially youth, as Soroti residents have bestowed trust in a 34-year-old man to steer the district local government’s topmost political seat, the Local Council Five (LCV) seat.
The NRM party’s youthful candidate, whose campaign centred on accountability, transparency, inclusion, and effective service delivery to the people across his electoral area, was declared winner of the LCV seat on Saturday at 1:00PM by EC officials at the tally center operated in Oculoi Sub County, Soroti District.
Mr Bob Owiny, who polled 28,224 votes, was in the race against three veteran political figures, among them Mr Vincent Enomu of the independent ticket, who garnered 20,504 votes in the 247 polling stations from the 12 sub-counties in the district.
Enomu, in the previous subsequent elections, contested for the MP seat for Soroti County before the creation of Dakabela County and shifted his interest to Dakabela County parliamentary seat, which in the two consecutive elections, he lost to the incumbent, Mr Cosmas Elotu.
‘As a returning officer of Soroti District and in accordance with Sec 147 of the Local Government Act Cap 138, I declare Bob Owiny, who has polled the largest number of votes, to be the elect LC V chairperson for Soroti District,’ Mr Joseph Mukwaya, the returning officer Soroti District, announced.
The other candidates are Mr. John Calvin Elenyu of FDC, who scored 5,036 votes. Mr Elenyu served as LC III chairperson Asuret Sub County in Soroti District before he became the district councilor serving as secretary health and education in the previous term, which he later lost in pursuit of the LC V seat.
While Mr John Michael Osege, another independent candidate and husband to the former Woman MP Soroti District, Ms Angeline Osege, obtained 5,242 votes.
Mr. Mukwaya confirmed that results from all polling stations were announced and tallied, except from one, Awoja Labour Line B-Z polling station, which was nullified due to allegations of ballot stuffing. According to him, voters at the affected polling station shunned participation in the election exercise at the polling area in protest over allegations of irregularities.
‘We have tallied all the results except from one polling station, Awoja Labour Line in Aukot Sub County, where people refused to vote and boycotted the counting exercise, and we have decided to nullify those results,’ Mr. Mukwaya said before he declared the winners.
Mr Owiny’s victory was received with cheers among the electorates and supporters, who promised to work hand in hand with their elected chairperson towards the transformation of the livelihoods of the people in Soroti District.
One of his supporters, Mr Joseph Okello, called upon elected members of the council to accord the youthful chairperson due respect in the office bestowed to him by the electorates and guide him accordingly towards the development of the district.
‘The people who voted for him know what they want. I want to pray that the elected councilors and other members of the public do not disrespect our leader,’ Mr. Okello said.
The victor, Mr Bob Owiny, praised God for his victory and pledged to work and serve his electorates without segregation.
‘I have been picked and am ready to serve the people of Soroti, and I will work to serve without segregation in the line of tribalism or in any other way that will put a section of the communities at a disadvantage. I am happy for those who worked with me, and I embrace with a forgiving and open heart those that did not work with me during the campaign period, so that we can work together to serve our people,’ Mr Owiny said.