By Christopher Oola
Alfred Okwango, the incumbent Gulu City Mayor, has lost his seat after being defeated in an election marred by allegations of massive irregularities including vote stuffing and bribery.
Okwanga, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate, garnered 9,586 votes losing to Acire Julius Labeja (Independent) who garnered 12,281 votes. Others in the race were Obonyo Mark Anthony who got 1023 votes, Okello Denis Oweka (340), Obonyo Patrick Wokorach (67) and Okello Jonathan Oxy (443).
Unlike in last week’s presidential and parliamentary elections, where delays were caused by the late arrival of voting materials and malfunctioning Biometric Voter Verification Kits, today the delays are being caused by voters themselves.
Across the country, voting materials arrived at polling stations as early as 6:00 a.m., with voting scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m.
However, by 9:00 a.m., many polling stations had yet to commence voting.
The delays are largely due to the absence of the mandatory 10 voters required to witness the opening of the black box containing voting materials.
In Gulu City, voting was delayed in several polling stations including at Layibi Central Primary School, Holy Rosary, 4th division playgrounds and Pece primary among others,
There was also standoff at Limo Te-Atura polling station (OI-LZ) in Pece-Laroo division, Gulu city after ballot boxes were brought without lead covers, sparking tense protest as Ugandans elect District and City Local Government officials on Thursday.
The standoff began at about 6:30 a.m. when Electoral Commission (EC) officials delivered voting materials that included three transparent ballot boxes without lead covers. Voters who had assembled early in anticipation of the 7:00 a.m. start questioned how ballot papers would be secured without the covers.
Tensions escalated hours later when EC officials returned with three transparent buckets purchased locally as a temporary substitute, further angering already frustrated voters. Some residents demanded the suspension of voting at the station, arguing that the integrity of the process had been compromised.
Apart this problem, the voting materials were delivered without basins for voters to use while marking their ballots. They had to borrow six basins from the community to help the process move.
An EC official at the polling station attributed the shortage of ballot box covers to logistical errors during distribution, noting that some polling stations reportedly took more materials than required. The official appealed to voters to accept the temporary arrangement, assuring them that the ballots would remain secure.
At the insistence of voters and candidates’ agents, the edges of the transparent buckets were cut with knives to allow the fitting of security seals.
Six were also arrested from Gulu city for impersonation while trying to vote using voter’s slips for other people.
They include Atto Nancy, Lakot Fiona and Laryang Agnes. They were arrested while trying to vote at Wigot West Police polling station in Laroo/Pece division. Others, whose names were not disclosed, were arrested from Holly Rosary polling station also in Laroo/Pece division.
The suspects claim they were lured by a team representing one of the mayoral candidates using money with each getting 2,000 to go and vote. According to reports several people were also turned away from several polling stations for impersonation.
At Kasumbi (A-J) polling station, more than 20 turn-up to vote but found their names have already been ticked, indicating that they have already voted. They include Acayo Susan who found her name already ticked.
Sources revealed to Mega Fm that polling officials deployed there were seen leaving their duty station for a nearby Hotel for unknown reasons.
