Apac votes NRM after two decades

By Patrick Okino

After two decades as a stronghold of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Apac District has elected a National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer as Local Council Five (LC5) chairperson, defeating a long-standing UPC heavyweight.

In the just-concluded LC5 and district council elections, NRM’s Ambrose Agech defeated incumbent Odongo Asanti by a wide margin. For the first time, NRM also secured a significant number of district council seats.

Agec garnered 29,928 votes against Odongo Asanti’s 17,470, a difference of 12,458 votes. Agec is a former District Agricultural Officer for Kole District.

The late Col. Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo, former State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, was the last NRM LC5 chairperson elected in Apac in 2006. Since then, the district—ancestral home of former President Apollo Milton Obote, the founder of UPC—had consistently voted LC5 chairpersons loyal to UPC.

After Okello Engola relocated to Oyam District, Apac elected Nicolas Opio Bunga, Bob Okae, and later Odongo Asanti, all staunch UPC supporters.

According to Sam Opira, a UPC councilor representing Chegere Sub-county, NRM secured 15 council seats, leaving UPC with onlyfive.

He attributed the party’s poor performance to internal wrangles, political intrigue, and infighting, which led to defections.

“The wrangles gave NRM an opportunity, and they capitalised on it,” Opira said, adding that UPC previously held the majority of council seats.

Across the Lango sub-region, NRM also secured the majority of LC5 chairperson positions, leaving UPC with fewer seats compared to the 2021 elections.

Among the winners are Ambrose Ongom Ongom (NRM), who garnered 24,208 votes in Alebtong District, defeating incumbent David Kennedy Odongo (UPC) who received 7,079 votes; George Akaca (NRM) in Kwania District with 26,612 votes, defeating Patrick Ogwang Obia (UPC) who got 24,108; and Moses Oteng (NRM) in Kole District with 17,651 votes, defeating Denis Obol (UPC).

However, Nelson Adea Akar (UPC) got 45,914 votes, defeating incumbent Benson Walter Dila (NRM) who polled 2,445. Peter Ogwang (UPC) won in Dokolo District with 29,113 votes, unseating incumbent James Otto Apili (NRM) who garnered 13,581.

In Lira District, incumbent Richard Cox Okello Orik (NRM) retained his seat with 21,967 votes, defeating William Onyanga (UPC) who polled 12,832.