By Cyprian Musoke and Godfrey Ojore
At the age of 19, NRM’s Proscovia Alengot Oromait sets the record as Uganda’s youngest legislator ever, after she was declared the winner in the Usuk County by-elections.
The final results that were announced just before midnight on Wednesday revealed that the youthful political newcomer had garnered 11,059 votes, beating eight other candidates to the vacant seat.
Alengot now takes on a position previously held by her late father, Michael Oromait, who is said to have died of natural causes in July prompting the byelection.
Alengot immediately expressed interest to replace her father, sparking off emotions of sympathy. She was elected fl agbearer for the NRM party after she had won the party primaries a little over two weeks ago.
She was followed in the polls by Charles Ojok Oleny (independent) with 5,329 votes, FDC’s Charles Okure with 2,725 votes and UPC’s Cecilia Anyakoit with 554 votes.
The other contestants were Martin Anukur Okwakol, DP’s Nicholas Oteger, Bob Paul Akiling, Oyola Ignatius Apuda and David Ariko.
Electoral Commission registrar Joseph Omona read out the final results before a highly eager crowd.
Butaleja Woman MP Cerina Nebanda has been the youngest female MP at the age of 23.
According to records reviewed, the youngest-ever elected MP Anton Abele, who was at 18 years elected to the Swedish Parliament for his activism against street violence.
The other one was Pierre- Luc Dusseault, who at the age of 19 years and 11 months was elected to the Canadian
House of Commons in 2011.
