Forgery won’t be tolerated, NRM warns flagbearer hopefuls
Odongkene revealed that some candidates might be tempted to forge declaration forms, which their agents could use to enter false results, something he said the party is ready to counter.
A police officer carrying polling materials to be dispatched to Chua East County in Kitgum District. (Photo by Jesse Johnson James)
By Christopher Nyeko
Journalists @New Vision
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Cyrus Odongkene, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party registrar for Kitgum district, has warned candidates and their agents against forging declaration forms in an attempt to falsify results.
He issued the warning on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the party office in Kitgum Municipality, as the ruling party held elections to choose its parliamentary flag bearers for the forthcoming 2026 general elections.
Odongkene revealed that some candidates might be tempted to forge declaration forms, which their agents could use to enter false results, something he said the party is ready to counter.
He noted that, in a bid to curb the vice, the party has introduced unique security features, details of which he declined to disclose, on the official declaration forms, making it easier to distinguish them from forged ones.
Furthermore, Odongkene said the official declaration forms had been dispatched to the respective polling stations. These forms will be signed by the agents of the respective candidates as well as other relevant polling officials, and copies will be retained by the party.
He added that a digital system for tallying election results has also been designed to ensure accuracy and transparency.
“The winners will be announced at the district NRM office, which is under tight security,” he said.
According to the party guidelines, Thursday’s polling exercise was scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m., but in most polling stations, voting commenced at midday.
Some polling materials were dispatched to distant areas such as Chua East and Chua West constituencies as late as 10:00 a.m.
In Chua East Constituency, five contenders are vying for the party flag: Godfrey Luwo, foreign affairs state minister Henry Okello Oryem, retired Maj. Gen. Fredrick Tolit Ociti, educationist John Calvin Okoya, and Richard Onencan Opee (former political aide to minister Oryem).
In Chua West, the contenders are Ann Nagudi, Aisa Okot, Allan Akena, and Simon Peter Oryema Adum.
For the district woman MP seat, incumbent Lillian Aber is facing off against Doreen Lakot and Winnifred Lanyero.