Voters in Oyam North across all the 8 sub counties and 167 polling stations went to the polls to vote their directly elected member of parliament to replace Col Charles Okello Engola who was gunned down by his body guard Private Wilson Sabiiti on 02nd May 2023.
Electoral commission rolled out a roadmap that led to the polling today with four candidates in the race though battle lines were drawn between NRM’s Samuel Engola Jnr and UPC’s Dr Eunice Apio Otuko.
Despite reports of the usual games of ballot stuffing, bribery and rigging which have happened in Soroti East, Bukedea, Serere, Kayunga among others, UPC’s defied the odds to beat NRM hands down with all the machinery and heavy artillery on ground.
According to the Oyam district registrar Mr. Richard Onoba, Apio Eunice Otuko garnered 15,718 votes (49.12%) followed by NRM’s Engola Samuel with 15,161 votes, FDC’s Okello Freddy Newton got 714 votes and NUP’s Okello Daniel came last with 403 votes.
Oyam district now has only female Members of parliament with Gender Minister Betty Amongi representing Oyam South, Santa Alum Ogwang who is the district women member of parliament and now Dr Eunice Apio Otuko who will represent Oyam North.
Many fallen MPs have largely been replaced by their biological children or relatives but Oyam has changed the topic despite president Museveni’s endorsement for Late Col Engola’s son Samuel Engola. In 2013, Serina Nebanda who was representing Butaleja district died mysteriously and was replaced by her young sister Florence Andiru Nebanda, Rehema Watongola was replaced by her Daughter Kayanga Baroda Watongola, Jacob Oulanyah was replaced by his son Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, Patrick Okabe was replaced by his son Emmanuel Omoding among others.
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