Thousands of NRM party supporters across Lango region are today ecstatic following a decisive victory in the just concluded by-elections. They burst into raptures jubilation shortly after the electoral authorities declared most of their candidates winners, something that had never happened in Lango since 1986 when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power.
However, Lango was not a walkover for the ruling party. In Lira a tough battle ensued between UPC and NRM especially in Adyel Division where UPC big shots camped for a week and their efforts bore fruits when Ekwang Cilodyang (UPC) was declared the winner.
In Railway Division a renowned journalist Richard Omara Awio (NRM) was declared winner as Councillor with over 768 votes while UPC candidate Ocen Odyek got 508 votes. Reports yet to be verified by the Electoral Commission have it that 5 out 8 council seats have been taken by NRM in Lira and that in Apac all the 8 positions were taken by NRM, with Ongom Odel comfortably sweeping the Town Councillor position.
In Dokolo 7 position were reportedly swept by NRM and only one position taken by FDC although UPC sources claim that the position for Dokolo Town Council Chairman was won by a UPC candidate.
In Oyam NRM lost 2 seats and retained 11 positions. Interestingly, the son of no-nonsense Oyam Chairman Col (Rtd) Okello Engola (NRM) contested for Oyam Town Councillor position under UPC ticket and tied with an FDC candidate. Oyam Town Council reportedly went to Anyuru Omodo, UPC.
Early reports from Amolatar, an NRM stronghold, indicate that the opposition did slightly better than the ruling NRM. Although NRM got only one out of 4 positions contested for during the by-election, Amolatar district firmly remains under NRM control.
Reacting to the news about NRM victory in Lango, Sam Engola, Lango’s NRM strongman and Lira District Chairperson told Lango Web that Langi have seen the truth and commitment of NRM to bring development to the region.
“That’s why 95% of Lango electorate voted for NRM in the just concluded by-election” Engola stressed. “People of Lango are tired of selfish politics; they now want development and the truth but not lies”, Engola added. He warned other parties against telling lies especially against President Museveni because Langi have now seen the truth, adding that Museveni shall get bigger votes in 2011.
A concerted drive to firmly establish NRM in Lango was launched in September 2008 when Minister Omara Atubo and NRM UK executive member Robert Olet Egwea inaugurated offices throughout Lango with the message of “Peace & Progress with NRM”. They appealed to the Langi to embrace government programmes and shun political dooms-preachers so as to catch up with the rest of the country in terms of development.
On the by-election results, Egwea, who was recently selected to represent NRM UK & Ireland Chapter in the forthcoming NRM National Executive Council meeting said: “This is good news for the people of Lango and Uganda at large. Our people have spoken loud and clear against the politics of intrigue, lies, hatred and divisionism. We are now ready to work closely with the NRM government so as to speed up the pace of recovery from 20 years of conflict”.
He also thanked all the people who campaigned hard for NRM in the region. According to NRM members on the ground, people who have been at the forefront of promoting NRM in Lango region include: Amolatar RDC Yeko Ongora Atwai, Presidential Advisor Levi Okodi Macpio, Oyam NRM Chairman Col (Rtd) Okello Engola Mac Odwogo, Apac NRM Chairman Richard Ogwang Odyero, Apac NRM Adminstrative Secretary Dennis Okello and many others.
Filed under: Politics
