14 Lango MPs Defeated

At least fourteen incumbent Members of Parliament from the Lango sub-region have been defeated in the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections.

Among those who failed to retain their seats is Felix Okot Ogong, the long-serving Dokolo South MP who had been in Parliament since 1996. Others include Jonathan Odur (Erute South), Samuel Okwir Odwee (Moroto County), Peter Ocen (Kole South), Judith Alyek (Kole District), Christine Akello, popularly known as Gwokadako (Erute North), Moses Ogwal Goli (Dokolo North), Dr Agnes Atim Apea (Amolatar), Btek Okot (Kioga County), Nelson OkelloLemba (Maruzi North), and Maxwell Akora (Maruzi County).

Also defeated were Tonny Ayo (Kwania County), Bob Okae (Kwania North), and the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, who had shifted from Oyam South to Lira City.

Okot Ogong lost to Vincent Opito, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) flag bearer. Jonathan Odur was defeated by Sam Engola, a former State Minister for Housing, representing the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Samuel Okwir Odwee lost to UPC’s Leo Elem, while Peter Ocen was defeated by Boniface Okot, the Northern Youth MP.

Judith Alyek, who shifted to Kole North after losing in the NRM primaries, was defeated by the incumbent Dr Samuel Opio Acuti. Akello lost to Patrick Ongom Aregedeng (NRM), Moses Ogwal Goli was defeated by Jones Ogwal Omara (NRM), and Dr Agnes Atim Apea lost to UPC’s Janet Auma Okao.

Btek Okot was defeated by Colline Agwec (UPC), while Okello Lemba lost to Bernard Otim Odoc of NRM. Akora was defeated by Patrick Ocen, an independent candidate, and Okae of UPC lost to James Ongu Tar of NRM.

In Kwania County, Tonny Ayo, who lost in the NRM primaries and later contested as an independent, was defeated by Tonny Eron (NRM), his former political assistant.

In a high-profile contest, the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Aceng Ocero, defeated her cabinet colleague Amongi, who had shifted from Oyam South to contest in Lira City.

According to available information, many of the legislators who lost their seats were either defeated during NRM primaries or shifted to new constituencies. The new Parliament is expected to commence in May.