Police in Oyam District have arrested two NRM party officials in connection with alleged electoral malpractice during the recently concluded NRM primary elections for Member of Parliament flag bearers.
The suspects including Bosco Onyik Ogwal, the NRM district chairperson for Oyam, and Jacqueline Adong, the district registrar were arrested following a coordinated investigation by North Kyoga Regional Police and detectives from the Police Headquarters.
North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema said the probe was triggered by a formal complaint lodged at Oyam Central Police Station days after the results were declared, by parliamentary aspirants Stephen Okello and Samuel Okello Engola Junior, son of the late Labour Minister, Charles Okello Engola.
On Thursday last week, vote counting and declaration of results in Oyam District extended into the early morning hours of July 18.
While the process in Oyam South reportedly proceeded smoothly, tensions arose during the declaration of results for Oyam North Constituency.
The aspirants raised concerns over alleged result alterations in certain sub-counties in favour of another candidate, Willy Omodo Omodo.
The pair protested the announcement and blocked the District Registrar from declaring the final results, although they later left the tally centre peacefully and reported the matter to police without causing damage.
The Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Okema, said an investigation was launched into the complaint leading to the arrest of the two suspects.
"Following interviews with key witnesses and the collection of statements, the case file was submitted to the Resident State Attorney and later returned with sanctions. The suspects are set to appear before a magistrate at Oyam Court to answer to charges of forgery and conspiracy to commit a felony," says SP Okema.
The incident adds to growing concerns about transparency and integrity in the ongoing party primary elections ahead of the 2026 general elections.