The recently concluded Local Government Council elections in the Bukedi sub-region have delivered a major political shake-up, with only two of the seven incumbent Local Council Five (LC5) chairpersons managing to retain their seats.
The two incumbents who survived the political tide are John Okea of Tororo District and Hajji Muhammed Nakeba of Kibuku District.
Okea, who has served as Tororo District chairperson for five years, secured a commanding victory after polling 139,805 votes, defeating his closest challenger, John Obbo, who garnered 31,826 votes in a four-candidate race.
In Busia District, incumbent chairperson Wasike Stephen Mugeni suffered defeat at the hands of first-time candidate Namayindi John Charles.
Mugeni, who ran on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, obtained 28,707 votes, while Namayindi, contesting as an independent, won with 38,194 votes.
The political shift was also evident in Butaleja District, where incumbent chairperson Higenyi Michael Bory lost to Elvis Were of the NRM. Bory had contested as an independent after losing the NRM primaries.
Were, who also serves as the Butaleja Youth League chairperson, won decisively with 41,277 votes, while Bory trailed with 17,387 votes.
In Budaka District, incumbent Emmanuel Pajje was defeated by Anthony Ketebu, a serving district councillor. Ketebu polled 45,577 votes, compared to Pajje’s 22,848 votes.
In Pallisa District, Okiria Ben emerged victorious on the NRM ticket after receiving backing from the outgoing chairperson, who stepped aside in his favour following defeat in the party primaries.
The electoral process in Butebo District, however, did not conclude as planned. Voting was suspended after allegations of election rigging and subsequent violence disrupted the exercise.
The Electoral Commission has yet to announce a new date for fresh polls in the district.
With the majority of incumbent LC5 chairpersons losing their seats, political analysts have attributed the outcome to growing voter dissatisfaction across the sub-region.
Concerns over poor service delivery, unfulfilled development promises, and allegations of financial mismanagement featured prominently during the campaigns.
Fredrick Othieno, a prominent opinion leader in Bukedi, cited misuse of public funds as a key factor behind the voter backlash.
“Take, for example, the one billion shillings allocated for road construction. The money has been misused by district heads, and the people are not happy. This is just one of the many reasons why incumbents are being voted out,” Othieno said.
