The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has asked all its voters in Oyam to show up in large numbers and exercise their electoral rights. 

UPC spokesperson Sharon Oyat Arach urged all the eligible voters in the constituency to turn up to cast and protect their votes.

“We call upon all members of Oyam North, the electorate, and supporters to turn up in big numbers tomorrow at the various designated polling station to not only cast their vote but also protect the vote of their candidate,” Arach said. 

She further thanked the people of Oyam North for their unwavering support during the campaigns, asking them to maintain the same spirit when the election comes. 

“UPC would like to appreciate the party members and supporters who turned up at every campaign site and overwhelmingly welcomed our candidate in their respective sub-counties and parishes,” she said on Wednesday during the party’s weekly media briefing in Kampala.

Arach cautioned against vote rigging and revealed that the party had trained and deployed agents and observers to curb any possible cases. 

“In preparation for July 6, 2023, election day for the Oyam North byelection, the party has identified and trained our agents and observers, on all possible tactics that could be employed to rig votes and also how to protect our votes,” she revealed. 

UPC's flag-bearer in the by-election is Dr Eunice Otuko Apio.

Background 

Following the death of the industrial relations state minister, who was also the county's Member of Parliament, Charles Engola, preparations to replace him were kickstarted. 

In due course, the Electoral Commission nominated four candidates to replace the slain minister: The former minister’s son, Sam Engola Junior of the National Resistance Movement party, Apio, Fred Okello Newton of the Forum for Democratic Change, and Daniel Okello of NUP.

The byelection is taking place today, Thursday, July 6, 2023.