The incumbent Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Achieng Opendi, has lost her bid to have a vote recount conducted in eleven contested polling stations, a decision that upholds her rival, Akoth Angella, as the duly elected Tororo District Woman MP.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday morning by Tororo Chief Magistrate Irene Nambatya, who dismissed Opendi’s application after the court established that two of the eleven contested ballot boxes had broken seals, while four others showed signs of tampering on their sides.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate held that the recount could not proceed once the integrity of the ballot boxes had been compromised, noting that the broken seals and physical interference rendered the exercise unreliable.
Opendi filed the application last week seeking a recount in selected polling stations across Tororo District.
She based her request on alleged irregularities and discrepancies in the electoral process, particularly during the tallying of votes at the Tororo Electoral Commission offices on January 15, 2026.
The court on Saturday gave both parties an opportunity to present their evidence and further clarify their positions before delivering its decision.
The polling stations where Opendi sought a recount included Kidoko Central, Kanang Church of Uganda polling station, Papakol Trading Centre, Kipangor Market, Bolimoo Trading Centre in Maundo, Ticaf Mosque (A-M), Pentecostal Assembly of God Church in Ogiroi, Buganga Primary School in Ojila Sub-county, Nyambulie (Pasikula North and Nyambulie Central) in Senda, Kainja Primary School in Soni Sub-county, and Aturukuku Primary School in Bison, Maguria, Western Division.
Speaking to Nile Post after the ruling, Opendi said she was not surprised by the court’s decision, especially after it emerged that two ballot boxes had been tampered with.
She accused the National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi, of orchestrating ballot stuffing with the help of security personnel, allegations she claims led to her defeat.
Opendi insisted that the will of the people who overwhelmingly voted for her had been subverted by a few individuals, despite her assertion that she garnered the highest number of votes.
Akoth Angella was declared the winner with 78,542 votes, narrowly edging Opendi, who polled 78,507 votes, a margin of just 35 votes, in a tightly contested race that attracted eight candidates.
Opendi added that the battle was not over and cautioned those celebrating the court ruling to do so with restraint.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Woman MP, Akoth Angella, thanked God for the court’s decision and described the ruling as a victory for the people of Tororo.
She vowed to defeat Opendi in any future political contest until her rival accepts political retirement.
