Boda Boda rider defeats incumbent NRM LC 1 candidate in Arua City

What the report says

The Independent Uganda, citing URN, reported that Swadik Abiriga, a 39-year-old boda boda rider, has won the LC 1 chairperson race in Ezoova Cell, Driwala Ward, Ayivu Division, Arua City. Abiriga ran as an independent and defeated incumbent Jane Japyem, the NRM flagbearer, in voting held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

According to the report, election officials declared Abiriga winner after he received 307 votes, compared with Japyem’s 234. Two other candidates, Richard Ovoyo and James Adriko, each polled two votes. The village returning officer, Ronny Dan Angundru, announced the result at about 1 p.m. under heavy security, after what security personnel described as Arua City’s most competitive LC 1 race.

The Independent reported that Abiriga, who has worked as a boda boda rider for the past three years, said after the result that he would seek to unite voters and rival candidates and serve residents without discrimination based on religion, tribe or political affiliation. Ovoyo and Adriko reportedly said they would cooperate with him, while Japyem declined to speak to the press and left the polling station.

Arua City returning officer Osman Ezale, who supervised the exercise in Ezoova Cell, praised the turnout and peaceful conduct of voters. The report also said three men were arrested before voting began over alleged illegal possession and distribution of voter slips and were detained at Arua Central Police Station. Ezoova Cell has more than 3,000 residents, with 722 voters registered for the LC 1 chairperson election.