“Political fix”: Teso erupts over alleged rigging in Bukedea race for speaker’s seat

Teso Sub-region residents are expressing dismay over the apparent sidelining of rivals to Parliament Speaker Annet Anita Among in the Bukedea Woman MP race, drawing parallels to issues that surfaced during the 2023 LC5 by-election.

The controversy surrounds the current nomination exercise, leading some to call for an official probe.

Washington Calvin Opus, a resident of Mukongoro in Kumi District, urged President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement chairman, to launch an investigation into the “mess” of the 2026 nomination, similar to the one he called for after the 2023 by-election violence. Opus also called for the public release of the report from the earlier investigation conducted by Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke.

Opus alleged a “syndicate between some of the powerful politicians, EC and some elements in the security” to undermine the political interests of rivals.

That concern was echoed by Kevin Asio, a Bukedea resident, who warned that allowing “impunity” to continue could spread nationally. Asio said those who question power in Bukedea face arrest, suffocation of their businesses and detention, which is “killing political competition.”

However, James Angura, a supporter of Speaker Among, said outsiders are attempting to tarnish Bukedea’s image.

“We, the people of Bukedea, are happy with what the speaker has done for us, and for now, there is no need to have a replacement,” Angura said, citing better services in the last 10 years. He deferred to the Electoral Commission, saying aspirants’ issues are still before the courts.

Benson Ekwe, the executive director of Public Affairs Center, called the situation a “black spot” on national politics. He questioned why contestation is permitted in Vice President Jessica Alupo’s home district of Katakwi but is allegedly curtailed in Bukedea, with journalists and opposition candidates reportedly denied access to the Electoral Commission office.

Electoral Commission spokesman Julius Mucunguzi advised aggrieved parties to file formal complaints with the EC or the courts, noting that “verbal complaints can’t get redressed because they lack specifics.”

Meanwhile, political leaders weighed in on social media.

National Unity Platform President Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, posted on X on Thursday evening that the whereabouts of his party’s candidate for Bukedea Woman MP, Florence Asio, and her comrades were unknown, with their phones switched off. Kyagulanyi also expressed concern that another party comrade, Alupo Mercy Marion, was unreachable.

“Shamelessly… Anita Among is chest-thumping that she is unopposed,” Kyagulanyi wrote.

In response, Chris Obore, director of communication and public affairs at Parliament, wrote on X on Friday morning, “Don’t invest in hating AAA (Annet Anita Among). She will always defeat you in Bukedea. … She is unopposed. Now use your hired machinery on social media to rant. Bukedea has spoken.”

National Resistance Movement spokesman Emmanuel Dombo issued a statement: “Hon Anita Annet Among, the Woman MP Bukedea, 2nd National Vice Chairperson, NRM, and Speaker of Parliament, has nominated, and therefore elected unopposed as Woman MP Bukedea District. We congratulate her upon this victory.”