Signature row sidelines two NUP aspirants in Pakwach, eight vie for LC5 seat

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Two aspirants from the National Unity Platform (NUP) missed out on nominations due to a mismatch of signatures.

According to the Electoral Commission (EC) in Pakwach, the signatures of the endorsers submitted by the candidates did not match those held at the EC head office.

"The signature we received did not match the one got from the EC head office for the person authorised to endorse NUP candidates in Pakwach district," read a statement from the Electoral Commission.

However, a member of the NUP, Emmanuel Rwothongeyo, said it was surprising, given that all documents were fully stamped. 

He noted that in other districts, candidates who used their focal persons as directed to sign their papers were successfully nominated.

The two affected NUP members are Samson Odwokachen, who was seeking to contest in Panyimur town council, and Ashraf Iddi of Pakwach town council.

Rwothongeyo added that they had been finalising the process online but were shocked to find that the Electoral Commission in Pakwach had contested their approach. 

He said they will petition the returning officer of the district for failing to ensure that the two party members were nominated.

Meanwhile, a total of eight candidates were nominated to contest for the position of LC5 chairperson. Most of them are independents, along with UPC and NRM candidates, who were cleared during the close of nominations on September 5, 2025.

Among those nominated are Joseph Tingo, Richard Oryeda, David Mukasa, and Shaban Kinobe, the NRM flag bearer.

Kinobe said he would improve the working relationship between district technocrats and politicians.

He also stressed the need to revise the fisheries policy, citing ongoing challenges despite the presence of the Fisheries Protection Unit.

"We still have immature fish, wrong size of the nets and boats, there seems to be an element of corruption, like the locals claim, therefore there's need to revise their operations through the office of the presidency," he said.

Kinobe also mentioned that central government roads have not been rehabilitated for some time, yet floods have damaged them severely. He pledged to push the central government to prioritise their rehabilitation.