The NRM party flagbearer James Pilli Leku has won the Adjumani West by-election with a landslide after collecting 12,423 votes and the Electoral Commission Chairman , Justice Simon Byabakama thanked the voters for maintaining peace during the elections.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has commended the people of Adjumani West Constituency for conducting what he described as one of the most peaceful and orderly elections witnessed in the country.
Byabakama made the remarks after the conclusion of voting, counting and tallying in the Adjumani West parliamentary by-election, in which National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Leku James Pilli emerged victorious with 12,423 votes.
Independent candidate Jasper Draga polled 2,559 votes, according to results declared by the Returning Officer for Adjumani Electoral District, Akau Eunice Christine.
The Returning Officer declared Pilli the elected Member of Parliament for Adjumani West after tallying 14,982 valid votes. A total of 234 votes were rejected or declared invalid, while 15,216 ballot papers were counted and 19 were recorded as spoilt.
Byabakama said the election, held across 114 polling stations, was characterised by calm, order and respect for the electoral process.
“I think we are discussing among ourselves that this might be one of the most peaceful elections that have happened. It was very peaceful. The people were very orderly and organised,” Byabakama said.
He noted that Electoral Commission officials did not encounter controversy at any polling station and that voters remained orderly even during the counting of votes.
“They have set the bar in this country on how to conduct a peaceful election. The people of Adjumani West, I must repeat, have set the bar,” he said.
Byabakama commended the candidates, political parties, security personnel, Electoral Commission staff, polling officials and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring a smooth electoral process.
He urged the people of Adjumani West to maintain the spirit of unity and work together for the social and economic development of the constituency.
Leku, in his victory remarks, thanked the people of Adjumani for entrusting him with the parliamentary mandate and pledged to work with the community to address their concerns.
“I want all of them to remain united because this was an election, but we are people of Madi and we must remain united to guard our place,” Leku said.
He invited his fellow contestants and their supporters to join him in working for the people of Adjumani West, saying the constituency faces a number of challenges that require collective effort.
Leku also paid tribute to the late General Moses Ali, whose death left the parliamentary seat vacant, saying he would seek to address some of the challenges left unresolved while appreciating the late General’s contribution to Adjumani West.
He thanked President Yoweri Museveni, the NRM Secretariat and party structures for their support during the electoral process.
NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi commended Leku for remaining composed after the party primary and for reaching out to fellow contestants following the internal contest.
He also praised the NRM mobilisation effort, particularly its focus on working with local structures and communities.
“To me, as a scholar, I think that was the best we did in all the by-elections I have handled. Touching base and building synergies with the local content made the local people own the process,” Odoi said.
NRM Director for Mobilisation Dr Rosemary Sseninde attributed the victory to teamwork involving the party leadership, district structures, mobilisation teams and local communities.
She said the campaign focused on uniting the people of Adjumani and called on leaders and residents to maintain that unity after the election.
“Now that they have a Member of Parliament, they need to all come together, work with him and be able to address the concerns and issues that affect Adjumani because life in Adjumani has to continue,” Sseninde said.
The results gave Leku a margin of 9,864 votes over Draga, completing the NRM candidate’s victory in the by-election.
