How a village teacher brought down the Government Chief Whip Obua

ALEBTONG, Uganda — Uganda Peoples Congress candidate Fred Jalameso pulled off a major political upset Tuesday, defeating Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua in a repeat election for the Ajuri County parliamentary seat.

Jalameso, a teacher making his first foray into elective politics, secured 16,336 votes against Obua’s 15,568. The victory unseats an incumbent who has represented the area since 2011 and held high-ranking positions in the National Resistance Movement government.

The repeat poll was ordered for 18 polling stations after a recount of the Jan. 15 general election results revealed significant tallying discrepancies.

Running under the slogan “Ajuri’s Candle Light,” Jalameso focused his campaign on rural poverty and infrastructure gaps. He took his message directly into Obua’s traditional strongholds in Awori and Awaping parishes, areas where opponents previously struggled to gain traction.

“I went to the ground with the message of hope and strong heart because I realized that those who have been contesting against the Government Chief Whip were not stronghearted,” Jalameso said after his declaration as winner.

The loss is a significant blow for Obua, who rose from youth representative to state minister for sports before becoming Government Chief Whip in 2022. Despite his seniority and the nickname “God’s Son” among his supporters, voters in the northern district opted for a change in leadership.

Local residents pointed to deteriorating roads and poor sanitation as key factors in the shift. Recent floods in the region washed away bridges and destroyed crops, leaving many subsistence farmers unable to transport produce to markets in Lira.

According to 2024 census data, the county also faces severe service delivery challenges, with more than 21,000 residents lacking proper sanitation and thousands relying on unimproved water sources.

Jalameso, who holds a master’s degree in business administration from Lira University, resigned as a head teacher last year to join the race. Obua was not immediately available for comment following the announcement.