Mixed Fortunes Mark Lira City LC1 Polls as Winners Emerge Amid Violence Claims

What the report says

Dokolo Post reported that Local Council One elections in Lira City, Uganda, were held on Tuesday in most areas, but some polling was affected by claims of violence, intimidation and disruptions. The report cited candidates and agents saying voting was halted in some places, while results were declared in several cells across the city.

In Ireda Central Park Cell, NRM’s Eyen Moses, also known as Yendo, won a second term as LC1 chairperson with 267 votes, defeating Independent candidate Otim Ramathan, who received 66. Eyen said the process was fair and pledged to focus on reducing crime, while Otim disputed the result, alleging that people from outside the cell voted and that his supporters faced intimidation. In Kakoge C Cell, UPC’s Ongom Regan was re-elected after receiving more than 280 votes against NRM’s Apea Williams.

Other reported winners included NRM’s Akullu Costen in Senior Quarter A Cell, where she became one of the few women elected as an LC1 chairperson after polling 65 votes. At Ogengo Polling Station, UPC’s Adonyo Patrick led with 86 votes, and in Boke Agali Cell, UPC incumbent Omach David retained his seat with 170 votes against NRM’s Otim Tom, who got 30.

The election also drew concern from the Great Lakes Centre for Strategic Media Studies, which condemned the reported arrest of tndNews Uganda journalist Denis Arao. The organisation said he was detained by uniformed security personnel while photographing clashes in Lira City East Division and taken to Ireda Estate Police Station. The claims add press freedom concerns to a local election exercise that otherwise produced several declared grassroots winners.