NRM’s Elma Kapel wins Northern Youth MP race

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Elma Kapel Challa of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has won the race for the Youth Member of Parliament for Northern region.

Wednesday's election saw over 1,500 youth delegates cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

Eventually, Kapel came out on top with 1,245 votes and was declared winner by West Nile regional election officer Juma Shesha.

The youths of northern Uganda casting their votes at Mvara Secondary School in Arua City. (Photo by Robert Adiga)

Her closest challenger, Elizabeth Wacha Shakira of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), got 343 votes.

Elizabeth Amollo of the Democratic Party (DP) tapped out of the race at the last minute but still appeared on the ballot paper. She received a lowly eight votes.Nor

thern Uganda comprises districts from the sub-regions of Karamoja, Acholi, Lango and West Nile.

Kapel said she won the election not necessarily because of being an NRM flagbearer but as a result of her hard work. She claimed she was the only candidate who traversed the entire northern region of more than 40 districts, including during the party primaries.

“Right now, when you look at our youths, understanding their problems is not just through social media. It is about reaching them. That is why I know them by name and by region," she said.

Elma Kapel Challa of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) won the race for the Youth Member of Parliament for Northern region. (Photo by Robert Adiga)

"I know the problems of West Nile cannot be the same with Karamoja. One of my targets is to be a Member of Parliament who will provide consultative leadership for the youths so that we work with them.

"These are youth leaders and not just voters, and they know the problems in their communities, and this way we shall be able to address their challenges."

The MP-elect said she will work to see that her representation in Parliament is impactful.

“One of the things I want to prioritise is youth inclusion because we make up to 70 percent of the population, and being a Member of Parliament of over 47 districts, I cannot do this alone."

Elizabeth Wacha Shakira of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) garnered 343 votes out of the available 1500 votes. (Photo by Robert Adiga)

Before the declaration of results, UPC's Wacha said she would concede defeat if she lost the election and deemed the process to have been free and fair.

She also vowed to work with the winner, if not her, by sharing her manifesto ideas with the MP-elect.