The Electoral Commission (EC) has ordered a fresh election in 18 polling stations in Ajuri County, Alebtong district in northern Uganda, following complaints of vote rigging and inconsistencies in the tallying process.
The affected polling stations are located in Awei sub-county, where one of the parliamentary candidates challenged the results, arguing that the declared figures did not correspond with those recorded at the polling stations.
At least five candidates were contesting for the Ajuri County seat in the 12th parliament. They include the incumbent, Denis Hamson Obua of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Fred Jalameso of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Emmanuel Ongom Okwel of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and two independents, Stephen Omara and Jasper Molo.
Ajuri County has a total of 178 polling stations. However, the EC received results from only 160 stations, which showed Jalameso leading with 14,321 votes (44.5 per cent), followed closely by Obua, the Government Chief Whip, with 12,963 votes (40.25 per cent). Okwel polled 2,848 votes (8.84 per cent), Molo received 1,558 votes (4.84 per cent), while Omara garnered 507 votes (1.57 per cent).
Earlier in the day, the EC, led by regional elections officer Jackson Igenyi Babirye, conducted a recount of votes from the entire Awei sub-county after Jalameso lodged a formal complaint.
Jalameso argued that the results announced a day earlier differed from those captured on the declaration forms at polling stations. He further alleged that in some of the disputed stations, the number of votes attributed to Obua exceeded the number of registered voters.
During the recount, the Commission reportedly found that some ballot boxes expected to contain election materials were empty. This discovery prompted the EC to nullify results from the affected polling stations and order a fresh election.
Meanwhile, results for Moroto County and the Alebtong District Woman MP seats were declared earlier without incident. However, Jalameso has objected to the decision to conduct a re-election, citing financial constraints that would make it difficult to mobilise again.
“This is something we are not accepting, and we are saying the Electoral Commission must task the candidates who participated in the election to bring their declaration forms,” he said.
He also claimed that undisclosed interests were influencing the process to shield the incumbent.
“In other places, as long as three-quarters of polling station results are obtained, results are declared. But here, it appears the interest of someone is being protected,” Jalameso argued.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the fresh election in the affected polling stations for January 27, 2026.