Alionzi extends olive branch after winning Arua mayoral NRM flag

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Lawrence Alionzi, commonly known as Dangote, winner of the highly contested Arua City mayoral election, has extended an olive branch to his opponents—incumbent mayor Wadri Sam Nyakua and Issa Kato Afeku—after being declared the winner following two days of tallying.

Speaking to the media, Alionzi commended the security forces for maintaining peace and order throughout the electoral process and tallying. He said elections are meant to be free and fair, based on democratic principles.

Alionzi was declared the winner on Friday, July 25, after two days of vote counting and tallying. He apologised to those he may have wronged in the heat of the moment during the electoral process.

He publicly extended an olive branch to his opponents and called for unity within the party to deliver on its promises. “This is just the first half of the exercise, and the general elections will complete the journey,” he said.

“The voting process was largely peaceful, and I have not received any complaints of violence or injuries,” he added.

He praised the resident city commissioner (RCC) for Arua, Salim Kumaketch, for his leadership and for ensuring that the tallying process was conducted peacefully. He also thanked the NRM secretariat for sending officials from Kampala to oversee the election and ensure transparency.

Alionzi secured 24,374 votes, representing 49%, while his closest rival, the incumbent Wadri Sam Nyakua, received 20,829 votes (42%). Former mayor Issa Kato Afeku garnered 4,704 votes (9%).

“I do not think it is a bigger task in the general elections. If you find a rat has defeated an elephant, then you should never doubt the rat’s ability to deal with any other goat on its way,” Alionzi said.

He added that the race against the incumbent reflected the strength of their message. “I am only the face of the ideas for the people and the young people. I represent hope and what the people wish to see in Arua city.”

“This will speak to several people out there, and what we stand for is what the young people stand for in Arua city,” he said.

Alionzi described his life as active from guild president to graduation, to crossing from NUP to NRM, and eventually contesting for mayor. “I did not plan to contest for mayor, but the call came when a gap needed to be filled.”

“I have always been requested by the people in various positions I have served in, and this is an example of Jonah when he was swallowed by the fish for three days,” he said.

The former Makerere University guild president said his first 100 days in office would focus on cleaning up the city’s system and restoring order.

He committed to working with other leaders in a consultative manner.

Alionzi was declared the winner under tight security, with both police and army deployed following tensions over the tallying process between his camp and that of incumbent Wadri.

Joel Obonyo, West Nile regional coordinator for the NRM electoral commission, declared Alionzi the winner after he secured the highest number of votes. He also thanked security agencies for ensuring a peaceful election process.

RCC Kumaketch reiterated that security had ensured the election continued and concluded peacefully, with consultation and involvement of stakeholders.

He said the objective was to guarantee that results gathered at polling stations were accurately read and declared at the tally centre without tampering, ensuring the people's voice was represented, regardless of the winning candidate.