Apac, Uganda: The race for Apac Municipality Mayor tightened sharply on Tuesday evening as provisional results showed the incumbent trailing his rivals, in a contest overshadowed by police arrests and heightened security interventions.
Three candidates are contesting the mayoral seat: incumbent Patrick Ongom Eyul of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Odongo Bonny Macline of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and independent candidate Andrew Awany, who is running under the borehole symbol.
As vote tallying from various polling stations across Apac Municipality progressed, provisional figures indicated that Awany and Odongo were edging ahead, raising the prospect of an upset in a municipality traditionally regarded as a UPC stronghold.
The contest, however, took a dramatic turn after police arrested the incumbent mayor, Ongom, earlier in the day over allegations of incitement to violence.
The Apac District Police Commander, Norah Mirembe, said the arrest was a preventive security measure.
“The arrest of the incumbent mayor followed intelligence information suggesting possible incitement that could disrupt peace during voting,” Mirembe told DailyExpress.
“He was transferred to Lira Regional Police Headquarters for further management as investigations continue.”
She insisted the action was not politically motivated. “Our mandate is to ensure voter safety and public order. We cannot wait for violence to erupt before acting,” she said.
In a related incident, police also briefly detained Andrew Awany, one of the frontrunners, for allegedly campaigning on Divine FM radio at about 9:30am while voting was ongoing—an offence under electoral laws.
Police said Awany was held at Apac Central Police Station and later released on police bond. “Campaigning during polling hours is illegal. The suspect was released on bond as inquiries continue,” Mirembe explained.
The Apac Resident District Commissioner, Andrew Onyuk, who also chairs the district security committee, defended the police operations.
“Elections are emotionally charged, and Apac is no exception. Our focus as security leaders is to ensure that the process remains peaceful and credible,” Onyuk said.
“No candidate is above the law.”
Despite the arrests and visible security deployment, voting was reported to have proceeded peacefully across most polling stations, with steady voter turnout.
Political observers say the early lead by Awany, backed by strong grassroots mobilisation, alongside Odongo’s showing for the ruling NRM, points to shifting political dynamics in Apac Municipality, where voters appear increasingly open to alternatives beyond the incumbent leadership.
As tallying continues, the final outcome remains uncertain, but the developments have already highlighted the high political stakes and growing competitiveness of local politics in Apac.
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