Winners and Losers in District Local Government Polls

The just-concluded district local government elections have delivered a mixed verdict for incumbents, returning political veterans, and first-time challengers, with voters in several districts opting for change while others reaffirmed familiar leadership.

An empty polling station

The just-concluded district local government elections have delivered a mixed verdict for incumbents, returning political veterans, and first-time challengers, with voters in several districts opting for change while others reaffirmed familiar leadership.

Across the country, the polls were marked by landslide victories, tightly contested races, low voter turnout, and a growing wave of disputes, as winners pledged improved service delivery and losers signalled court challenges over alleged irregularities.

Former Pader District Chairperson Alfred Akena has reclaimed the LC5 seat after winning the 2026 district chairmanship election in a decisive landslide, securing 20,779 votes and returning to office a decade after his first tenure ended.

The results were announced by the District Election Administrator and Returning Officer, Eric Gimei.

Akena, who served as district chairperson from 2011 to 2016, thanked voters for renewing their trust in his leadership, describing the outcome as a clear mandate to restore efficiency and accountability in district administration.

Following his victory, Akena said his immediate focus would be on addressing persistent human resource challenges that have left hundreds of civil servants and pensioners unpaid. He noted that delayed salaries and pensions have undermined morale and weakened service delivery across departments, pledging urgent intervention to clear the arrears.

Akena further said poor road networks continue to limit access to markets, health facilities, and schools, while food insecurity remains a major constraint to household income and economic stability in Pader District.

According to the official tally, Democratic Front candidate Dickson Ojok came second with 6,997 votes. Incumbent LC5 Chairperson Col (Rtd) Fearless Obwoya Oyat, who contested as an independent after losing NRM primaries, polled 4,895 votes. Former chairperson Largo Oringa Godfrey, also an independent, received 4,373 votes, while Bernard Akamba Onen of the Uganda People’s Progressive Party garnered 866 votes.

A total of 38,442 votes were cast, with 37,890 declared valid and 552 invalid. Electoral officials noted that voter turnout was less than half of the expected electorate of about 90,000 registered voters.

Ojok, a district councillor with over ten years of experience, said his decision to contest was driven by persistent underdevelopment despite continued government funding. He raised concerns about stalled public projects, corruption, and delayed payments to civil servants and pensioners.

Akena contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket after defeating Obwoya and Oringa in the party primaries, saying his leadership experience and background in student leadership and civil service—particularly in the health sector—position him to effectively manage district affairs.

In Nakaseke, Ignatius Koomu Kiwanuka, the LC5 Chairperson of Nakaseke District, secured a fifth term in office.

At 4:08 am on Friday, Nakaseke District Returning Officer Aidah Tusiime declared NRM candidate Ignatius Koomu Kiwanuka the duly elected LC5 Chairperson for the 2026–2031 term.

According to the results, Koomu secured a massive victory after garnering 49,516 votes, defeating independent candidate Fredrick Kakooza, who obtained 8,720 votes. Kakooza is the incumbent LC3 Chairperson of Kasangombe Sub-county.

Koomu, a retired teacher, is among the longest-serving LC5 chairpersons in Uganda on the NRM ticket. He was first elected in 2006, shortly after Nakaseke was carved out of Luwero District, and has since won every election.

Koomu attributed his re-election to his firm stance on issues affecting the common person and his fight against corruption.

Recently, Koomu attracted national attention after administering mock examinations to teachers to test their competency, a move that drew sharp criticism from Ministry of Education officials and teacher unions.

The teachers later dragged Koomu to Luwero High Court, seeking a declaration that the competence tests were illegal and could be used to remove them from service.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Nakasongola District, LC5 Chairperson Sam Kigula lost his seat after serving two terms. Kigula was defeated by Male Youth Council Chairperson Rogers Kulaba Ssemanda.

By the time of filing this story, the results for Luwero District had not yet been declared. In Busia district, a radio presenter won the race. John Charles Namayindi, a radio presenter with Voice of Busia FM, has won the Busia District LC5 race.

Busia District Returning Officer Joan Aduru, on Friday morning, declared Namayindi, who contested as an independent candidate, the newly elected LC5 Chairperson after garnering 38,194 votes.

Namayindi competed against five other candidates, including incumbent NRM’s Stephen Mugeni Wasike, who polled 28,707 votes. NUP’s Geoffrey Wandera, a former LC5 chairperson, got 2,524 votes, while Ajuma Nabwera of the UPM party garnered 808 votes.

Other independent candidates included Mangeni Sam Okumu, who obtained 8,117 votes, and Sireka Peter Namalwa, who got 1,125 votes.

The Returning Officer, Joan Aduru, said the elections were free and fair.

However, incumbent LC5 Chairperson Stephen Mugeni Wasike rejected the declared results, alleging exaggeration of voter numbers in polling stations in Masaba, Masafu, Buhehe, and Sikuda sub-counties.

Mugeni said he intends to petition the courts seeking the nullification of the results.

NUP’s Geoffrey Wandera also rejected the outcome, saying the entire electoral process—from presidential to local government—was marred by vote rigging.

Meanwhile, the newly elected chairperson, John Charles Namayindi, pledged teamwork and improved service delivery, particularly through better road infrastructure.

He added that upon assuming office, he would work to restore harmony between technocrats and the political leadership to improve monitoring of government programmes.

Ntungamo District Returning Officer Charles Wafula declared Mucunguzi the winner of the LC5 race after he garnered 84,903 votes (51.19%), narrowly defeating Kabeho, who polled 80,465 votes (48.51%).

Naboth Mpireirwe Naboth, who withdrew from the race, still received 503 votes (0.30%).

Wafula said results from 24 polling stations were set aside after the number of votes exceeded registered voters, a decision agreed upon by the candidates.

Following his declaration, Mucunguzi pledged to prioritise the fight against corruption.

“For the last two years, you have all seen what has been said about our district, especially in the health sector. I want to make sure that in these five years, the district is free of corruption.”

Kabeho refused to concede defeat, alleging ballot stuffing, voter bribery, and violent attacks on his supporters.

“Ballot stuffing in Kajara and the municipality was the order of the day… I will announce my next step in a few days.”

Jubilant voters urged Mucunguzi to deliver services and decisively tackle corruption.

Ntungamo District has 314,840 registered voters and 812 polling stations, up from 268,541 voters in 2021. In Amuru, Christopher Odongkara, the NRM flag bearer, has been declared the new Amuru District LC5 Chairperson after a landslide victory.

Odongkara garnered 18,161 votes, defeating independent candidate Opio Atwom, who polled 4,732 votes, and FDC’s Denis Rom with 4,720 votes.

Other contenders included Tony Kilama (3,794), DP’s Francis Otim (599), NUP’s Richard Odokonyero (729), and independent candidate David Oceng Alex Penytoo (306).

Out of 104,641 registered voters, only 34,194 turned up to vote. Of these, 33,041 votes were valid while 1,153 were invalid.

While declaring the results, Amuru District Returning Officer Gertrude Ajwang decried the increasing tribalisation of politics, particularly between Pabo and Atiak, warning that it threatens community cohesion and development.

Ajwang also appealed to voters to turn up in large numbers for the upcoming election cycle scheduled for January 27.

Odongkara previously served as LC3 Chairperson for Pabo Sub-county from 2016 to 2021 before unsuccessfully contesting for Kilak MP.

In Oyam district, Nelson Adea bounced back as LC5 Chairperson

Nelson Adea of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has bounced back as Oyam District LC5 Chairperson.

Adea defeated NRM’s Benson Walter Dila and independent candidate Peter Emuna.

According to results released by District Returning Officer Joseph Omona, Adea secured 45,914 votes (64.64%). Dila polled 24,041 votes (33.84%), while Emuna got 1,078 votes (1.52%). A total of 71,033 valid votes were cast.

Independent candidate Peter Emuna accepted the results, citing the vast size of the district as a challenge during campaigns, and said he would return in 2031.

By the time of the declaration, Benson Dila was not present at the tally centre.

In Arua City, Alionzi registered a landslide victory. Former Makerere University Guild President Lawrence Alionzi, popularly known as Dangote, has been declared the winner of the Arua City mayoral race.

Alionzi, the NRM flag bearer, polled 32,663 votes, defeating independent candidate Trinity Ceaser Draecabo, who got 3,197 votes, and DP’s Gaspar Pirio, who garnered 1,712 votes.

The results were declared by Arua City Returning Officer Oshman Ezale after tallying votes from all 446 polling stations.

A total of 37,572 valid votes were cast, with 927 invalid votes.

Alionzi will succeed incumbent mayor Wadri Sam Nyakua, whom he defeated during the NRM primaries.

Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, Alionzi said the victory reflected strong mobilisation and a campaign message focused on improving service delivery.

Vote tallying was conducted in the absence of the two losing candidates.

Other winners in Arua City included Rashid Onzima as directly elected councillor for Arua Central and Kalisum Abdu Fadimula as women’s representative.

In Madi Okollo, the incumbent LC5 Chairperson in Madi Okollo, Ismail Drabe Adirisi of the NRM party retained the seat in a tightly contested election.

According to the official results announced by the Madi Okollo District Election Administrator, Samuel Olet, Drabe garnered 16,014 votes, narrowly defeating independent candidate Bruno Onzima, who polled 15,917 votes. Another independent contender, Antes Oyemy Asedri, received 254 votes.

Speaking shortly after his victory, Drabe expressed gratitude to the voters and reflected on the challenges faced during the campaign. He said his team encountered hostility and voter intimidation, but called for unity among residents as he continues his leadership.

When contacted after the announcement of results, independent candidate Antes Oyemy Asedri, who was initially in the race, confirmed that he had withdrawn his candidature before polling day.

Efforts to speak to Bruno Onzima were futile by press time, as his known telephone contact was unavailable.

According to the official results, a total of 32,185 valid votes were cast, with 767 ballots rejected, bringing the total number of ballots counted to 32,952.

An analysis of the results shows that Drabe significantly increased his support compared to the 2021 election, when he won with 7,192 votes.

Meanwhile, runner-up Bruno Onzima also recorded strong growth, rising from 5,383 votes in 2021, making the 2026 race one of the most competitive in Madi Okollo District’s recent political history.