By KT Reporter
The incumbent Lira City Mayor, Sam Atul, has won the City’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag.
Atul won with 16,530 votes against his opponent, Henry Opio Ogenyi, a retired commissioner for Surveys and Land Mapping, who got 2,740 votes.
Atul, who in 2021 won the mayoral race as an independent candidate, later joined the NRM Party with the hope of improving services for the people. He says Thursday’s win marks the next phase of changing the City.
Having witnessed the low voter participation in this primary compared to parliamentary elections, Atul believes that the current election format undermines local government races and emphasises the need for reforms.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the system of lining up behind candidates, calling it outdated and ineffective.
In the Division Mayoral races, former Lira District Speaker George Rashid Opio sailed through unopposed in Lira City West Division, while in City East Division, Emmy Joe Odongo won the flag after garnering 10,589 votes against George Okwee’s 3,152 votes.
Okwee conceded defeat, promising to work together with the flag bearer to ensure that NRM wins the general election.
Thomas Okello, the Electoral Officer for Lira City, implored those who lost to support the winners.
Low voter turnout in the ruling NRM party primaries has ignited fresh debate in Lira City. Rashid Opio called for streamlining of local government and parliamentary elections to avoid loss of votes.
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