Akena, Rukutana in lead as Otengo, Gen Otafiire trail

LIRA.

Provisional results trickling in from a few polling stations last evening indicated that the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate for Lira Municipality parliamentary seat James Akena was in an early lead.

The two-time MP Akena was leading in the municipality’s four divisions of Ojwina, Railways, Adyel and Central.
He was leading his three challengers, Maj Pollar Awich (NRM), FDC’s Joel Okao Otema and Denis Blaire Okello (Independent).
Mr Akena got 42 votes at Okole polling station in Railways Division, Maj Awich (33), Mr Okao (15), while Okello polled 03 votes.

At Tedipira polling station also in Railways Division, Mr Akena got 166 votes; Maj Awich (46), Mr Okao (23) and Okello managed 01 vote.
At Numa Ground A-Z polling station in Central Division, Mr Akena fetched 202 votes, Mr Awich polled 52 votes, Mr Okao got 64 and Mr Okello walked away with a paltry 06 votes.

Mr Akena also won at Numa Ground in Central Division with 214 votes. He was followed by Mr Okao (64); Maj Awich (44) while Mr Okello got 02 votes.

In the other two divisions of Ojwina and Adyel, Mr Akena was also reported to be leading in several polling stations.

Rebecca Amuge Otengo
Preliminary results from most polling stations in Moroto County by last evening indicated State minister for Northern Uganda, Ms Rebecca Amuge Otengo, had 10,991 votes, trailing her new rival Mr Samuel Okwir, who had received 13,669 ballots across all the sub-counties of Apala, Aloi, Akura, Abia and Aloi Town Council, according to results got from the candidates’ agents.

Candidates Tom Nedi, Mr Paul Ogwal Olule and Mr Benson Obua Ogwal (all independents) are all eying the Moroto County seat.

Sam Engola
In Erute South, the State minister for Housing and incumbent MP Sam Engola, was in a precarious situation to retain his seat. Preliminary results showed he was losing to UPC’s Jonathan Odur, who by last night had polled 19,187 votes against Engola’s 16,474.

In western Uganda, the deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana was by press time leading in the race for Rushenyi parliamentary seat where he was competing with six other candidates, including his fiercest rival Justus Karuhanga.

Results from 10 polling stations of Bwita, Ruyonza, Rubanga, Mugono, Omungyenyi, Rubaare, Town Board A, Town Board B, Full Gospel and Kikunyu indicate that Mr Rukutana had polled 1,813 votes, while Mr Karuhanga had 1,480 votes.
The exercise was generally peaceful.

Ponsiano Mugyenyi
In Isingiro North, State minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama was leading his traditional rival, Dr Ponsiano Mugyenyi. In Kaberebere Town Council, Mr Rwamirama polled 1,368 votes against Dr Mugyenyi’s 1,197.

The Forum for Democratic Change’s Anthony Rutahweire was trailing.
There are 60,358 registered voters in Isingiro North.

Otafiire fate
In Ruhinda, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire was trailing Capt Donozio Kahonda, the NRM flag bearer, from seven polling stations whose results had trickled in by press time. Capt Kahonda had polled 2,155 votes against Gen Otafiire’s 441. The exercise was violence-free.
Total registered voters in Rushenyi are 61,498.

Take note
By press time, the results in all the mentioned constituencies were still too few to give a reasonable picture of the likely final outcome.

(By Alfred Tumushabe, Felix Ainebyoona, Zadock Amanyisa, Perez Rumanzi & Bill Oketch)

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