The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has deployed two former MPs, Emmanuel Dombo and Rosemary Seninde, to Omoro county to kick-start the groundwork for vote-hunting ahead of the May 25 by-election.

Seninde is the party’s director for mobilisation and Dombo is the director for communication. The two started the groundwork on Monday this week.

The Omoro county seat fell vacant following the death of former Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah on March 20 at a hospital in Seattle. Oulanyah was buried on April 8 in Omoro district.

Several contenders have shown interest to contest for the Omoro seat, including Oulanyah’s son, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, who is an NRM candidate. 

“We want to build on the strength the late Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah built,” said Dombo recently.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has fronted former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party stalwart, Simon Tolit, for the seat.

On the other hand, FDC has selected Denis Owani to hold the party’s flag for the parliamentary position.

The Electoral Commission has set nominations for contenders in the Omoro County seat for next week (May12-13). 

Campaigns, EC officials said, will run from May 16 until May 24.

According to the by-election roadmap issued by the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, polls will be conducted on May 25.

Voters will also elect the Omoro district woman councillor for Lalogi/Lakwaya.

“The Commission received the notice of vacant position for Omoro County Member of Parliament on March 28, 2022, and therefore, the statutory deadline for holding the by-election is Saturday, May 28, 2022,” said Byabakama.