Soroti mayoral candidate released after arrest over alleged election offence

SOROTI - Police in Soroti City West today, January 27, 2026, released mayoral candidate Isaac Asaku after he spent several hours in custody over an alleged election offence.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag-bearer Asaku was arrested shortly after casting his vote at Nakatunya Primary School on Tuesday morning. He was later charged with an election-related offence and released on Police bond.

According to the bond letter, which was scant on detail over why he had been arrested, as seen by New Vision Online, Asaku was instructed to report back to the Police on January 31, 2026.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his release, Asaku said he had been directed to return home and remain there until the close of polling.

Isaac Asaku (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

“I have been instructed to go home and not to move out until voting ends this evening. I am heading home now. As usual, I am a peaceful man,” Asaku said.

Efforts to obtain a comment from East Kyoga region Police Commander Ibrahim Siaga were unsuccessful. Police officers in Soroti City West declined to comment, saying they were not authorised to speak to the media.

The Soroti City West mayoral race has attracted four candidates: Incumbent Peter Patrick Emaru (Uganda People's Congress), John Enomu (National Resistance Movement), Asaku and Samuel Eyobu, an Independent. Soroti City West is the smallest division in the city, with 29,766 registered voters and is the division Asaku has been representing as their city councillor.

Abdul Latif Wali (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

Meanwhile, Soroti City East, which has the highest number of registered voters at 40,542, also has the largest field of mayoral candidates, seven in total, including Abdul Latif Wali (NRM), Solomon Epuru (NUP), Elias Ewachu (DF), Gabriel Ogire (FDC), Tom Okilan (Independent), Moses Oyait (PFF), and Wilfred Onyango (Independent).

The winner of this race will replace Paul Omer, who declined to seek re-election after unsuccessfully contesting for the Soroti City mayoral seat.

That race was won by National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Francis Esudu.

Polling across Soroti City continued amid tight security as voters turned out to choose their leaders.