OMORO: Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the Electoral Commission Chairperson has announced that polling in Omoro will take place on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Thereafter, counting of votes and announcing of results by the respective Presiding Officer shall take place.
Strongly urging voters to turn up early at their respective polling stations so that polling processes commence on time, that is, by 7:00am, Byabakama clarified that voting for Directly-elected Member of Parliament shall be by universal adult suffrage, and shall take place at all the eighty-four (84) polling stations in Omoro County Constituency, beginning at 7:00am and ending at 4:00pm.
“Similarly, voting for District C for Lalogi/Lakwaya Electoral Area shall be by universal adult suffrage, and shall take place at all the twenty-five (25) polling stations in the electoral area, beginning at 7:00am and ending at 4:00pm,” he added in a press release issued Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
As earlier notified, the vacancy for Directly-elected Member of Parliament, Omoro County, occurred as a result of the death of the former Member of Parliament, who also served at national level as the Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, the late Rt. Hon. Jacob Lkori Oulanyah.
On other hand, the vacancy for District Woman Councillor representing Lalogi/Lakwaya electoral area occurred following the resignation of the former Councillor, Caroline Nyakorach.
As required by law, the statutory deadline for conducting a Parliamentary by-election is sixty (60) days after notification from Clerk to Parliament on the occurrence of the vacancy. The Commission received the notice on March 28, 2022, and therefore, the statutory deadline for holding the by-election is Saturday May 28, 2022.
Accordingly, the Electoral Commission has undertaken various activities under the programme for conduct of the by-elections, which included the following:
An update of the National Voters Register from April 14 to 19, 2022, at update stations in each of the thirty-seven (37) parishes in Omoro County Constituency;
The display of the National Voters Register conducted from April 25 to May 4, 2022, at all the eighty-four (84) polling stations in Omoro County.
The Nomination exercise was conducted on Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13 at Omoro District Council Hall, Omoro, and the following candidates were dully nominated to contest for the Parliamentary and Local Government Council by-elections:
i) Kizza Oscar – Alliance for National Transformation
ii) Odong Justine – Forum for Democratic Change
iii) Odonga Terence – Independent
iv) Ojok Adrew Oulanyah – National Resistance Movement
v) Onen Jimmy Walter – Independent
vi) Toolit Simon Akecha – National Unity Platform
The following candidates were nominated to contest for the District Woman Councillor representing Lalogi/Lakwaya Electoral Area:
i) Anek Christine Teopista – Uganda Peoples Congress
ii) Ayo Mercy – Forum for Democratic Change
iii) Laboi Margret – National Unity Platform
iv) Lalam Florence – National Resistance Movement
v) Lawino Franka – Independent
In adherence to the COVID-19 prevention measures, all persons participating in the electoral exercise shall be required to comply with guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Government of Uganda and Ministry of Health measures against the spread of COVID-19. This includes observing social distancing and wearing of masks.
The campaign meetings for the Omoro Parliamentary and Local Government by-elections commenced on May 16, 2022 and were successfully concluded on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
