Northern Uganda Local govt council NRM primaries tense, peaceful

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Kitgum District National Resistance Movement (NRM) administrator Geoffrey Innocent Nyero says polling materials, including voter registers and declaration forms, were dispatched on time to various polling stations ahead of the party local government council primaries.

The primaries come exactly one week after the Member of Parliament primaries were held. However, unlike the earlier primaries that had several pockets of violence, there has been a lull of peace across the country this time around.

Nyero says priority was on polling day, July 24, 2025, given to remote areas such as Katwotwo and Akurumo parishes in Orom East Sub-County, which borders the Acholi and Karamoja regions.

These areas received polling materials after 2:00 PM last Thursday, during the elections for the parliamentary party flag bearers.

Nyero emphasised the importance of inclusivity, explaining that distribution began with distant polling stations to ensure that even the most remote communities were not left out of this critical electoral exercise.

In Kitgum district, the race for the position of LCV (Local Council V) chairperson is highly competitive, featuring five candidates: Dr Luka Nyeko, a former district chairperson (2011–2016); Eng. Samuel Atochon Odong; Fredrick Acellam; Emmanuel Oryema Langabi; and Tonny Blair Tolit, who recently defected from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

On the morning of the elections, all candidates convened at the District NRM office, which also served as the tallying center.

They exchanged friendly greetings before proceeding to their respective polling stations to cast their votes.

Meanwhile, in Agago District, NRM district administrator Patrick Komakech expressed optimism about the electoral process.

He reported that voting materials were received by 8:00 pm the previous evening and promptly distributed to all sub-counties and town councils, including six villages that had experienced challenges during the recent parliamentary elections.

The LCV chairperson race in Agago is equally intense, with five candidates contesting: incumbent Leonard Ojok Opiyo; Wilson Otto; Wilfred Okello Ateng; Simon Odoch; and Lillian Abalo. Agago District comprises 26 sub-counties, 117 parishes, and 1,147 villages.

In Lamwo district, three candidates are vying for the district chairman’s party flag.

They include incumbent Sito Oyet; Jimmy Amone, who served as the district speaker from 2011 to 2016; and Richard Oyet Kwang.

According to the NRM register, Lamwo has 68,250 registered voters across 530 villages.

Denis Osborn Okwera, the NRM returning officer for Lamwo, confirmed that all necessary voting materials were dispatched on schedule, ensuring a smooth electoral process.