At least four candidates have been declared nominated for by-election of Member of Parliament for Oyam County North Constituency, Electoral Commission has said.
The candidates are: Apio Otuko Eunice (UPC); Okello Freddy Newton (FDC); Engola Okello Samuel (NRM); and Okello Daniel (NUP).
Mr Paul Bukenya the EC spokesperson told this publication this evening that they expect more to return nominations by tomorrow.
“We know that require people to second one for an MP position are not and some people use a matter of hours to return nomination forms. we are hoping that some of them will return tomorrow,” Mr Bukenya said.
Late Col.(Rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwongo is the former Oyam North Member of Parliament who also doubled as the Minister for Labour,Employment and Industrial relations was gunned down by one of his personal bodyguards Pte Wilson Sabiiti who later took his life on 02nd.May.2023.
By Monday afternoon,the Electoral Commission had already cleared two candidates in the race Apio Otuko Eunice (UPC) and Okello Freddy Newton (FDC).The two candidates have promised to improve community livelihood and access tp service delivery if they make it to the parliament.
The ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM) has fronted the deceased’s son Engola Okello Samuel Junior as their flag bearer to replace his father in parliament.
This is not the first time NRM is fronting deceased MP’s children to replace the parents in parliament.Emmanuel Omoding son to the late Patrick Okabe as Serere MP,Andrew Ojok Oulanya son to the former speaker of parliament late Jacob Oulanya also replaced his father as Omoro county MP.
The nomination exercise is scheduled to take place at Oyam District Council Hall in Oyam town council from 9am to 5pm on Monday 19 June and Tuesday 20th June 2023 .Nominated candidates will conduct campaign meetings for only thirteen (13)days that is from Thursday 22nd June 2023 to Tuesday 4th July 2023.
Polling and counting of results for the by election of the directly elected member of parliament will be conducted on Thursday 6th.July 2023 from all the 163 polling stations in Oyam County North Constituency Oyam District.
