By Jumah Kakomo
Fred Jalameso, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate for Ajuri County in Alebtong District, has petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC), seeking a declaration that he is the duly elected Member of Parliament. His petition follows a controversial decision by the EC to order a fresh election in 18 polling stations within the constituency due to allegations of vote rigging and tallying inconsistencies.
The affected stations are located in Aweri Sub-county, where Jalameso’s campaign team claims that the election results at the polling stations did not match the numbers recorded at the booths. Jalameso, who contends that the election process was flawed, argues that when the results from these 18 polling stations are included, he emerges victorious with 15,097 votes, ahead of the incumbent, Denis Hamson Obua, by over 500 votes.
Jalameso’s challenge is significant, as Obua, the Government Chief Whip and candidate for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), was initially reported to have received 12,963 votes (40.25%), trailing Jalameso who had secured 14,331 votes (44.5%) from 160 of the 178 polling stations in the constituency. Emmanuel Ongom Okwel of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and two independent candidates, Stephen Omara and Jasper Molo, also contested the seat.
The Electoral Commission had announced that results from 160 polling stations had been received, with Jalameso in the lead. However, the election body ordered a re-run in 18 disputed polling stations, citing discrepancies in the vote tallying and allegations of electoral malpractice. This move has been fiercely contested by Jalameso, who insists that the results from the non-disputed stations should be sufficient to declare him the winner.
“I am asking the Electoral Commission to declare me the winner based on the results already announced for 160 stations,” Jalameso said. “We cannot accept that the process be delayed and that we are forced to go back for fresh elections when the figures clearly show I have won.”
Jalameso further alleges that election officials, including the district returning officer, Adong Jessica Ochen, were involved in tampering with results and mishandling the tallying process. His team reportedly detected these irregularities before the EC’s decision to hold a re-election, and has since filed a formal petition with the Commission in Kampala.
The EC’s decision to conduct a re-election in the affected stations has been met with criticism from Jalameso, who argues that the results should have been finalised using the 160 polling stations. He has also pointed to significant irregularities in some of the disputed stations, including discrepancies in the number of votes cast for Obua, which allegedly exceeded the number of registered voters.
According to sources, during a recount, the EC discovered that some ballot boxes were found empty, prompting the Commission to nullify the results from these stations. The fresh election for the 18 contested polling stations is now scheduled for January 27, 2026.
Jalameso, however, expressed concerns about the financial burden the fresh election would place on his campaign. “This is something we are not accepting,” he said. “The Electoral Commission must task the candidates to bring their declaration forms from the polling stations.”
The UPC candidate also accused the Electoral Commission of being influenced by hidden political interests, suggesting that efforts were being made to protect the incumbent. “In other areas, once three-quarters of the results are available, they are declared. But here, it seems like someone is trying to protect their interests,” Jalameso added. While Jalameso continues to contest the election process, the EC has stated that it is committed to ensuring a fair and transparent process in the fresh election, scheduled for later this month.
Meanwhile, results for Moroto County and the Alebtong District Woman MP seat were announced without dispute, highlighting the controversy surrounding the Ajuri County elections. As the re-election looms, the dispute over the Ajuri County seat remains unresolved, leaving local voters and candidates alike awaiting the final verdict from the Electoral Commission.
