FDC's Amuriat loses Kanyum County seat to NRM’s Okwalinga

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Patrick Oboi Amuriat has lost the Kanyum County parliamentary seat to National Resistance Movement (NRM) Simon Peter Opolot Okwalinga.

Okwalinga was on January 16, 2026, declared the winner of the hotly contested race, ending Amuriat’s bid for the seat. Okwalinga obtained 11,558 votes in the parliamentary elections, while Amuriat got 3,441 votes.

Patrick Soul Kedi obtained 4, 068 votes, John Okanya Kokas (independent) 1,695, Vincent Orena (independent) 618, Joel Adupa (independent) 441, James Akabwai (NUP) 190, and Orion Osman (independent) with 131 votes.    

Speaking shortly after his victory, Okwalinga was reminded by his voters of a pledge he made when he won the NRM primaries. He had promised a sheep to each voter if he wins the parliamentary elections.

His pledge was renewed in the just-concluded polls, where supporters were issued coupons bearing the image of a sheep.

“Now that the electorate has given me another term, I will fulfil my pledge,” Okwalinga said, adding that arrangements would be made to deliver the promised sheep to voters.

The legislator-elect pledged to offer effective representation in Parliament, saying Kanyum County in Kumi district has a large population whose needs must be prioritised.

He also promised to lobby for the elevation of health facilities in the area, including upgrading health centre IIs and health centre IIIs.

On education, Okwalinga said he would support schools and lobby for the establishment and gazettement of government-aided schools in newly created academic and administrative units, including Kakures and Kadami sub-counties.

“These are some of the priorities I intend to pursue immediately,” he promised.

Opolot Simon Peter Okwalinga of NRM secured the Kanyum County seat in Kumi district.

When contacted, Amuriat told New Vision that the Kanyum County parliamentary election was affected by malfunctioning biometric voter verification kits, a problem he said was reported in other parts of the country.

He observed that many voters who arrived at Kanyum County polling stations as early as 6:00am were unable to vote because by 11:00am, voting had not started, forcing several of them to leave.

Amuriat said two polling stations in Kanyum County were never disclosed to his team, denying them the opportunity to deploy agents to safeguard his votes.

He also alleged that the election was marred by bribery, with money playing a decisive role in determining the outcome.

According to Amuriat, two NRM candidates who lost in the party primaries but later contested as independents, allegedly with NRM backing, spent large sums of money during the campaigns.

He added that the official NRM candidate, Okwalinga, who was declared the winner of the elections, was also heavily funded.

“What took place in Kanyum County was voting for money, not the election of the best candidate,” Amuriat said.