The Dokolo District by election registered a high voter turnout as locals  went to the polls on Thursday  to decide who would be their district woman Member of Parliament.

The seat fell vacant following the demise of Dokolo District Woman Member of Parliament Cecillia Barbara Atim Ogwal who died of cancer on January 18 at an Indian hospital.

Six candidates are vying for the seat. They include, UPC flag bearer Sarah Aguti Nyangkori, NRM’s candidate Jannet Adongo Elau, Forum for Democratic Change candidate and the late Cecilia Atim Ogwal’s daughter Dr Rosemary Austin Alwoch Ogwal, NUP’s Harriet Ageno.

Independent candidates are Dr Esther Akullo Obot and Rebecca Arao.

Dr Rosemary Austin Alwoch Ogwal

The election process started with the dispatch of the voting materials which started by 3:00 am Thursday. Voting materials arrived in most polling stations as early as 6:30 am and vote casting began by 8:00am.

At 10:00am NRM candidate Adongo Elau cast her vote at Angwcebange Primary School A polling station in Dokolo Town Council while FDC Dr Rosemary Alwoch Ogwal voted from Dokolo Progressive Secondary School polling station at 10:45am in Dokolo Town Council. UPC Aguti Nyangkori cast her vote at 11:59 am at Apenyoweo Primary School A Polling Station in Okwongodul Sub County and Rebecca Arao Independent candidate cast her vote at 2:00 pm at Kangai Primary School Polling Station in Kangai Sub County.

Addressing a presser briefly after casting her vote she said she was optimistic about winning the Dokolo woman MP seat notwithstanding a few cases of intimidation and torture.

NRM's Adongo casts her vote. Courtesy photo

“My people are in the field and I am on the phone to monitor the voting processes. We registered only one case in Adwoki where the RDC of Apac beat some UPC supporters who have not heard many cases, “she said, although Abudul was not available for comment by press time.

High voter turn out

As voting continues, most of the polling stations visited by our reporter had recorded high turn out.

At Aneroalibi Primary School Polling Station in Okwongodul Sub County, out of the 552 registered voters, 134 had already voted by 10:50am. Ojede market polling station, had registered 163 voters out of the 665 registered at the station. Still in Okwongodul Sub County, by 11:25am, 147 had already cast their votes out of the 455 voters registered at the polling station.

Ambrose Ogwang, a voter at Dokolo Progressive Secondary School Polling Station and a resident of Otolomomoleo cell in Dokolo Town Council said the by-election is an opportunity for the people of Dokolo to find a competent leader who can spur development in the district.

NUP’s Harriet Ageno.Photo by Hudson Apunyo

“I am very excited to be the first person to cast his vote at this polling station. I want the Member of Parliament I am electing today to prioritize issues of health and education.  We demand the elevation of Dokolo HCIV to a district hospital status, development of historical sites and other key issues, “he said.

Peaceful election

Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (E.C) said that the E.C will ensure that the election ends peacefully.

“I want to tell the public that we are going to obtain free and fair elections, “he said, adding that, “We expect polling to start at 7:00 am and end by 4:00 pm.

Similarly, Deo Obura, Regional Commander of North Kyoga assured the people of Dokolo of peace during and after the by-election. “As police we are on alert and we have not yet received any serious cases on the ground, the whole exercise is still running smoothly, “he said in a phone interview.

Dokolo was carved out from Lira District in 2006 with two constituencies of Dokolo North and South. It has 10 sub counties, 4 town councils, 71 parishes and 484 villages in the entire district.

With an estimated population of about 270,000 residents. About 100,000 voters are expected to vote in the 173 polling stations in Dokolo District according to Dokolo District Returning Officer Erikwaine Ngob.