Africa-Press – Uganda. After nearly two days of tallying, celebrations erupted at the Tororo District tally center on Thursday as incumbent District Chairperson John Okea was declared the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The announcement was made by district NRM registrar Joseph Kadoketch, who confirmed that Okea had won by a landslide, securing 112,824 votes.
His closest challenger, Paul Mich, managed only 15,914 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Okea struck a conciliatory tone and called on his rivals to join his re-election campaign and contribute to the party’s shared vision.
“Let them join Team Okea because we have plans for them. We shall not leave them just like that; we shall assign them duties, even in boards,” he said.
However, the declaration has ignited controversy, with several opponents rejecting the results and accusing the process of being rigged. Some have vowed to challenge the outcome before the NRM electoral tribunal.
John Obbo Wandera, one of the contestants, questioned the legitimacy of the figures announced.
“David, when you look at the voter turnout of this election, do you see someone garnering one hundred thousand-plus votes? This can’t be accepted, and we can’t watch people change results in their favor with impunity like this,” Wandera said.
Douglas Kapisi, another aspirant, said he was prepared to run as an independent candidate should the party fail to address their concerns.
“I am here to announce to my supporters that we are back in the race, with or without the flag. Let people decide. We can’t believe in this impunity,” Kapisi declared.
The unrest in Tororo mirrors broader dissatisfaction within the NRM following the primaries, where multiple contestants from both parliamentary and local government races have filed petitions with the party tribunal in Kampala.
Despite the fallout, newly elected Municipality MP flag bearer Apollo Yeri Ofwono urged reconciliation and forward-looking politics.
“We still have several opportunities coming. Let’s be united. When you lose today, you can win tomorrow, since we have about four administrative units coming soon,” Ofwono said.
The Tororo primaries were also marked by notably low voter turnout. In a surprising outcome, almost all incumbent district councillors perceived to be aligned against Okea lost their seats to political newcomers.
As internal disputes intensify, focus now shifts to the NRM tribunal in Kampala, whose rulings could significantly alter the party’s final lineup for the 2026 elections.
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