By Emmanuel Olinga
KATAKWI
The LCIII chairperson Seats for Katakwi District have been dominated by the NRM candidates in the 15 sub counties out of 20 sub counties across the district.
Katakwi District has Twenty 20 sub counties and out of 20, 15 seats were taken by NRM leaving the five sub counties with 4 independent candidates and one FDC LCIII chairperson.
The Katakwi District Electoral commission declared fifteen elected candidates as officially as chairpersons on Thursday morning by 10:00 am at Katakwi district tally Centre.
Among those declared by district Returning Officer Stephen Makubya’s as LCIII chairperson under NRM ticks are Amaitum Simon Peter NRM Okulonyu Sub County, won with 965 votes, defeating Ronald Ongorok with 743 votes and Nicodenu Omuga NUP got 06 votes, while in Omodoi sub county Saverio Okiror won with 845 votes, defeating three others: Angoit Silver Independent, who received 182 votes, Simon Okwaput Independent, who received 674 votes, and Eugene Olero Independent, who received 34 votes.
In Usuk Sub county, Nathan Malinga was proclaimed the winner with 1144 votes, defeating three other candidates: David Ariko DP with 1112 votes, Simon Peter Ocimwa Independent with 514 votes, and Paul Odongo with 137.
In Ngaraim Sub County, Moses Iteit of the NRM was proclaimed the winner with 2188 votes, defeating Francis Otude, an independent, who received 347 votes, while Ben Okello finished last with 78 votes.
In Okore Subcounty, Charles Ikabat of the NRM won with 1,077 votes, defeating Simon Okedi, an independent candidate who received 367 votes.
In Akoboi Subcounty, Jorem Obukwi won with 1986 votes over two other candidates: Steven Inamut Independent, who received 891 votes, and Ronald Opuwa, who received 380.
In Toroma town council, NRM continued to win, with Winfred Rose Akol winning with 413 votes, defeating Charles Okudi independent, who received 353 votes. Simon Peter Omacar NRM grabbed the mantle after receiving 1031 votes, challenging his lone opponent, Albert Emukok independent, with 896 votes.
In Katakwi Subcounty, an NRM candidate, Zadock Akutu, won with 922 votes, defeating two other independents, Judith Atim (366 votes) and Daniel Otim (245 votes).
In Palam Subcounty, Martine Egwarat, an independent, lost with 2059 votes to NRM John Elunyu, who received 2749 votes.
In Magoro town council, NRMs Richard Okello won with 364 votes, defeating Independents James Olupot and Victor Odil, who received 352 and 256 votes, respectively. In Subcounty Francis Aruo NRM won his seat for the second time with 2703 votes, defeating Independent John Robert Obukulem, who received 1497.
In Guyaguya Subcounty, another NRM candidate, Amos Otim, won his second term with 1,652 votes, defeating two independents, Charles Ongoletum (1030 votes) and Sarah Ilarit (10 votes).
In Ongongonja Subcounty, John Peter Malinga of the NRM won by 1941 votes, defeating Micheal Okweny, an independent who received 1002 votes, and James Okwi, an independent who received 108 votes.
Also in Toroma Subcounty, John Bosco Oranit challenged the incumbent Obwalinga Kizito independent after receiving 1629 votes, while the incumbent lost with 1318 votes, and John Peter Ariko ok independent came in last with 369 votes.
While the other independent candidates won on independent tickets, Ben Odeya, an independent candidate, was elected LCIII chairperson Getom Subcounty after receiving 949 votes. The best six bother candidates were Okwalinga Joseph NRM, who received 567 votes, Apuda Ignatius, who received 379 votes, Choda Daniel Ibilat, who received 601 votes, Eilor David Kadogo, an independent incumbent, received 443 votes, Bosco Ogasi, who received 101 votes, and Samuel Odeke received only 43 votes.
Isaac Omagor, an independent candidate, won Amusia LCIII with 740 votes, while John Francis Ichumar of the FDC received 18 votes, Peter Odeke, an independent, received 150 votes, Simon Peter Odeke received 07 votes, John Robert Okudu, an independent, received 541 votes, Paul Opwata, an independent, received 24 votes, and Joseph Enyaku Osire received 688.
Elvis Ojula won as an independent candidate with 2,530 votes, defeating NRM flag bearer Henry Moses Ojula with 1,800 votes, James Enyakoit independent ticket with 53 votes, Godfrey Amosai NUP with 22 votes, and Moses Eciis independent with only 7 votes.
Michael Echelu an independent won the Kapujan LCIII seat with 2529 votes beating incumbent Micheal Iremaut of NRM who got 1637, Florence Malinga independent who got 597 votes and Emmanuel Olupot independent got 74 votes also an FDCs Simon Peter Okot secured second term with 807 votes challenging Hermans Ebele of NRM who got 415 votes and George William Ojakol independent came last for Usuk town council.
However, John Robert Okiror, NRM chairperson for Katakwi District, claims that the Party was able to help their candidates with a tiny amount of party money.
He also attributed Katakwi’s track record to the recent NRM, noting that Katakwi was ranked seventh in the country in NRM voting and first in the eastern region, which he attributes to unity and a way to express gratitude for special appointments Katakwi has received, ranging from RDCs to vice presidents.
Okiror indicated that the loss of five seats to independents and one seat to the opposition was due to a failure to follow party ideals, such as not contesting after losing in party elections.
Meanwhile, Raphael Ojakal, Forum for Democratic Change FDC chairperson for Katakwi District, stated that the FDC registered more than ever before in last year’s elections, highlighting FDC’s rise in Katakwi as voices representing people from the grassroots to the district council.
Ojakal claims that the FDC is increasing in Katakwi despite voter bribery, intimidation, and other characters who undermine democracy or political allegiance of interns of other colors.
According to him, more than 26 people are thought to have been successfully elected under the FDC opposition party.
