Pallisa, Uganda: Ben Okiria has been declared the Pallisa District LC5 chairperson-elect after securing a landslide victory of 82 per cent in the district local government elections, defeating his closest challenger, Joseph Okoboi Opolot.
Pallisa District Returning Officer Mary Claret Ekima announced the results at 3:18am on Friday, declaring Okiria winner after polling 85,223 votes against Okoboi’s 18,595 votes.
Ekima said the declaration was made in accordance with Section 147 of the Local Governments Act, Cap 138, after Okiria obtained the highest number of valid votes cast.
Immediately after the announcement, Okiria broke down in prayer, thanking God and voters for what he described as overwhelming, cashless support across the district.
“I have no befitting words to thank my people who yesterday defended the 120,000 votes they gave me during the NRM primaries,” Okiria said. “I was a bit depressed in the morning when turnout was low, but by midday the situation changed. By 2pm, queues had formed at many polling stations.”
Okiria credited voters for delivering a decisive mandate not only to him but also to the National Resistance Movement, saying Pallisa had overwhelmingly backed the ruling party.
“The people of Pallisa have shown love for the NRM by electing about 95 per cent NRM councillors and 5 per cent NRM-leaning leaders,” he said. “I call this a people’s victory. I am merely a symbol entrusted to deliver unity beyond tribe, fight corruption and improve service delivery.”
On behalf of the family, Okiria’s mother Jane Ojulo Okiria revealed that the victory was preceded by sustained prayer and fasting, thanking God for a peaceful campaign.
“When God says yes, nobody can say no,” said Muzei Aaron Ojulo, a family elder. “Our son won the 2021 LC3 election for Pallisa Town Council but was later removed. We did not know that God had a bigger plan.”
LC3 Chairperson Vincent Oluka, who coordinated Okiria’s campaign in Kameke Sub-county, described the outcome as spiritually predetermined.
“From every corner of the 21 sub-counties, the people approved him,” Oluka said. “This success is not about mobilisation. None of us should brag. This is a joint people’s victory that has made Okiria one of the best-voted LC5 chairpersons in the region.”
Efforts to reach Okoboi for comment were unsuccessful by press time. Okoboi had earlier contested in the NRM primaries for Gogonyo County, where he lost to incumbent Derrick Orone, before opting to contest for the district chairperson seat.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
