In a face-off debate of the candidates vying for the Oyam North Constituency on NBS Television hosted by Benison Ongom at the Polline Hotel in Lira, yesterday night, each member was required to market themselves through their manifestos.
However, during the debate, the opposition politicians alleged that the NRM candidate will end up winning because the political ground is not levelled, because the NRM candidate is riding on the sympathy vote from the populace.
Dr. Otuke Eunice Apio argues that the political ground is not levelled since Engola Junior joined the race after his father’s death and that most people sympathise with grieving families and are bound to vote in favor of him.
“Engola is a grieving candidate, Oyam voters will definitely vote him out of sympathy, so to a greater extent, the election seems to be inclined in that direction,” said Otuke Apio.
Daniel Okello alleges that the NRM will win because they will rig the elections, like they always do.
However, some supporters are wondering whether NUP’s Okello is preempting rigging before the elections take place.
Newton Okello, FDC, accused UPC and NUP of belonging to the same party but using different party colours. He wondered why Kyagulanyi was in Oyam, inciting his supporters against the same party they all belong to, which is the NRM, since his visit’s security was tight.
“I am fighting 3 in one; all these people are NRM; look at where Obote’s heir, Akena, is after we gave him sympathy votes. He is with NRM, so is DR. Apio, and Daniel Okello, will not be surprised on the eve of the elections, when they all cross and vote NRM. Either way you look at it, NRM is playing us, they are the same people,” said Okello, FDC.
However, NRM’s Engola Junior says they are in a football match, whereby the best player with the highest goals takes it all, and besides, he has been a representative of the council twice, representing his people in the town council.
“I am not a novice in politics; I have been serving, and my people know it hence that narrative of sympathy votes does not count. I am very well qualified to lead the people of Oyam North in Parliament,” said Engola Junior.
One can easily be tempted to agree with the opposition’s fears of NRM, taking the seat, as over 900 UPC members crossed over to NRM during the President’s campaign in support of the NRM candidate in Oyam today. Who gave the background of NRM, having roots with UPC?
Oyam North Constituency is set to go to the polls on July 6th, 2023, by election, with four candidates vying for the seat: NUP’s Daniel Okello, UPC’s Eunice APIO Otuke, FDC’s Newton Okello, and NRM’s Samuell Engola Okello Junior, which fell vacant after the death of Col. Engola, who was gunned down by his driver in a Kampala Suburb.
