By KT Reporter
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party structure elections in Kotido Municipality concluded on Wednesday amid a protest vote from supporters loyal to former Jie County MP, Adome Moses Bildard.
Adome lost the NRM Municipal Chairperson race by a narrow margin to Peter Lonya, the West Division Mayor, who garnered 79 votes against Adome’s 74. Lonya, also known as “Jupitek,” was declared the winner by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson for Kotido, John Paul Namuya.
Tensions escalated further after Sean Paul Kiyonga, from the camp of Kotido Municipality MP Ismael Muhammad Lomwar, won the position of General Secretary with the same vote margin of 79 to 74, deepening suspicion among Adome’s supporters.
Following his defeat and that of two of his allies, Adome rejected the outcome, describing the exercise as a “sham” that violated NRM election guidelines. He particularly faulted the inclusion of former municipal councilors in the electoral college, which he claimed was outside the official party rules.
Despite the irregularity claims, Adome said he would not petition the results, citing a lack of faith in the system: “It is unnecessary. I would never get justice in a system full of crooks.” In contrast, MP Lomwar and winner Lonya maintained that the elections were free and fair, a position echoed by NRM District Registrar Namuya.
The election was marred by violence earlier in the day, as security forces fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse rowdy crowds locked out of the polling area at Kotido Municipal Council offices. The chaos followed confrontations between supporters of the rival camps, some of whom tried to storm the polling center in protest of the inclusion of the former councilors.
According to the 2025 NRM election guidelines, the electoral college for municipal structure elections comprises NRM Members of Parliament, the Municipal Mayor or flag bearer, NRM Municipality Councilors or flag bearers, executive committee members of special organs within the municipality, and members of the Division Executive Committees.
In cases involving special organs, the executive of the organ at the municipal and division levels forms the college-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
