BY DAVID MAFABI
PALLISA, GOGONYO
National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Candidate Mr. Derick Orone has been declared the winner of the Gogonyo constituency by-election.
The Gogonyo seat fell vacant after the Court of Appeal ruled that Mr. Orone was irregularly elected in 2021 following a petition by his rival Mr. Taligoola.
According to the Pallisa district Returning officer Mr. Daniel Othieno, Orone garnered 19,099 votes against National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Joseph Okoboi who scooped 519 votes.
“Accordingly as the returning officer of Pallisa electoral district and in accordance with section 58(1) of the Parliamentary Election Act,(as amended) I hereby declare Mr. Orone Derrick who has obtained the largest number of votes, to be the elected candidate for Gogonyo County constituency,” she noted.
Election drama fell in when NUP’s Okoboi withdrew his candidature during President Museveni’s August 9 visit but failed to send the letter of withdrawing from the race to the EC in time for the EC to drop his name from the ballot paper.
Mr Okoboi told an NRM rally at Agurur Primary School that he wanted to rejoin the NRM party. “I have quit and I am getting back to the mighty party,” Mr. Okoboi said amidst applause from NRM supporters before he shook hands with Mr. Museveni.
However, according to EC’s Mr. Othieno, Mr. Okoboi’s name appeared on the ballot paper as a candidate contesting for the Gogonyo constituency seat was elected and only managed 519 votes.
And early on Mr. Taligoola had also said amidst cheers from NRM supporters “For the good of the party I have decided to quit the race and support the NRM candidate. I have made the right decision,” Ends
