Two fiercely contested LC1 election re-runs in Moroto District concluded today under tight security, ending in victory for Lorenzo Owongo and Peter Lodia. The elections, held in Camp Swahili Chini and Kambizi Village, followed violent disruptions that had nullified the earlier results.
In Camp Swahili Chini, Lorenzo Owongo triumphed over incumbent chairman Hajji Akida Lokure with 197 votes to 176 in a hotly anticipated rematch that took place amidst heavy rains.
“I thank the people of Camp Swahili Chini for standing with me. This win is not just mine it’s ours,” said Owongo, surrounded by cheering supporters.
However, the result did not sit well with the incumbent. Hajji Lokure refused to concede, saying, “There were serious irregularities in the process. People who were from other villages also voted. What happened today does not reflect the will of the people. I am considering my next course of action.”
In Kambizi Village, Peter Lodia defeated his rival Peter Nakopia Lolem by a wide margin, garnering 59 votes to Lolem’s 25.
“This victory shows that the people of Kambizi believe in change. I promise to work for every resident, regardless of how they voted,” Lodia told reporters shortly after his win.
The re-runs were ordered on Tuesday, 6th May 2025, by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) after both elections descended into chaos, marked by fistfights, vandalism of electoral materials, and police firing tear gas and live ammunition to restore order.
Today’s polls, by contrast, proceeded under a heavy police presence that ensured relative calm during verification and voting. While tensions remained high, particularly in Camp Swahili Chini, no major incidents were reported.
James Tweheyo, the NRM Electoral Commission official overseeing the Karamoja sub-region, praised the conduct of the elections.
“Despite the violence we witnessed yesterday, today’s voting was generally peaceful across the region,” he said.
As supporters danced in the streets and chanted slogans in celebration, the focus now turns to the next phase of the NRM’s internal electoral process—parish-level elections scheduled for Monday, 12th May 2025.