By KT Reporter
The Electoral Commission has ordered a fresh election in 18 polling stations in Ajuri County, Alebtong District, following complaints of vote rigging and inconsistencies in the tallying process.
The affected polling stations are located in Awei Sub-county, where one of the candidates challenged the results, arguing that they did not reflect figures recorded at polling stations.
Ajuri County has 178 polling stations but the EC received results from 160 polling stations where Jalameso garnered 14,321 representing 44.5% while his closest opponent Obua, the Government Chief Whip got 12,963 representing 40.25%.
Jasper Molo got 1,558 which represents 4.84% and Stephen Omara garnered 507 votes representing 1.57%.
Emmanuel Ongom Okwel of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had obtained 2,848 votes, representing 8.84 per cent of the vote.
Earlier in the day, the Electoral Commission—led by Jackson Igenyi Babirye, the Regional Elections Officer—conducted a recount of votes from the entire Awei Sub-county after candidate Jalameso Fred lodged a formal complaint.
Jalameso argued that results announced by the Commission a day earlier differed from those recorded on declaration forms at polling stations.
Ajuri County has five parliamentary contenders vying for a seat in the 12th Parliament. They include the incumbent Denis Hamson Obua of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Jalameso Fred of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Emmanuel Ongom Okwel of FDC, and two independent candidates, Stephen Omara and Jasper Molo.
Jalameso alleged that in some of the disputed polling stations, the number of votes attributed to Obua exceeded the actual number of registered voters. During the recount exercise, the Commission reportedly discovered that some ballot boxes that were supposed to contain election materials were empty, prompting the decision to nullify results from the affected stations and order a re-election.
Meanwhile, results for Moroto County and the Alebtong District Woman Member of Parliament seat were declared earlier without incident.However, Jalameso has objected to the decision to conduct a fresh election, citing a lack of resources to mobilize again.
“This is something we are not accepting, and we are saying the Electoral Commission must task the candidates who participated in the election to bring their declaration forms,” he said.
He further claimed that there were hidden interests influencing the process to protect the incumbent.
“In other places, as long as three-quarters of polling station results are obtained, results are declared. But here, it appears the interest of someone is being protected,” Jalameso argued.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the fresh election in the affected polling stations for January 27, 2026.
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