Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) has ordered a fresh parliamentary election in 18 polling stations in Ajuri County, Alebtong District, after uncovering serious discrepancies between declared results and polling station records.
The decision followed a complaint by Fred Jalameso, the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate, who alleged that results announced earlier did not tally with figures recorded on official Declaration Forms.
Before the dispute, Jalameso was leading the tightly contested race with 14,321 votes (44.5 percent) after results from 160 of 178 polling stations were tallied.
He was followed by the incumbent Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), who had 12,963 votes (40.25 percent).
Other candidates included Emmanuel Ongom Okwel of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) with 2,848 votes (8.84 percent), while independents Stephen Omara and Jasper Molo polled 1,558 votes (4.84 percent), and Stephen Omara received 507 votes (1.57 percent).
Following Jalameso’s petition, regional elections officer Jackson Igenyi Babirye conducted a recount, which revealed significant irregularities.
The EC found cases ‘where votes attributed to Obua exceeded the number of registered voters, as well as empty ballot boxes in some polling stations, particularly in Awei Sub-county, Obua’s home area.’
The commission subsequently ordered a re-run scheduled for January 27, pledging ‘transparency and fairness.’
Polling stations affected include Apami Primary School in Abako Sub-county and several centres in Awei Sub-county, among them Arwot Primary School, Agogoro Primary School, Awei Sub-county headquarters, Ogogoro Primary School, Wigweng Chapel, Alengo Church of Uganda, and Owalo Primary School, among others.
Jalameso objected to the re-election decision, citing financial strain.
‘This is something we are not accepting, and we are saying the Electoral Commission must task the candidates who participated in the election to bring their Declaration Forms,’ he said in an interview on January 17.
He further alleged that undisclosed interests were influencing the process.
‘In other places, as long as three-quarters of polling station results are obtained, results are declared. But here, it appears the interest of someone is being protected,’ Jalameso argued.
Jalameso said his strong showing in the January 15 polls reflected voter frustration over poor education outcomes, deteriorating roads and high agricultural input costs.
He also accused Obua of mismanaging constituency development funds.
‘For four terms, Obua has mismanaged Constituency Development Funds and if each voter in Ajuri was to benefit, they would receive Shs70,000 each,’ he said.
Results for Moroto County and the Alebtong District Woman MP seat were declared earlier without incident.
Who is Jalameso?
Fred Jalameso is a teacher by profession. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Lira University.
About Obua
Hamson Obua was first elected to the 8th Parliament (2006-2011) as the Youth Member of Parliament representing Northern Uganda. In 2011, he was elected to represent the newly created Ajuri County in Alebtong District.
He was re-elected in 2016 and 2021 and is the incumbent Member of Parliament. Following a Cabinet reshuffle on December 14, 2019, Obua was appointed State Minister for Sports, replacing Charles Bakkabulindi. He was sworn in on January 13, 2020, after parliamentary approval.
On August 16, 2022, Obua was appointed Government Chief Whip, a position he currently holds.