Dr. Alwoc (in green) the daughter to the Late Ogwal arriving for the stakeholder meeting at Dokolo Technical school recently. Photos by Simon Eluk
By Simon Eluk and Arnest Tumwesige
Dokolo: The by-election for the Dokolo district woman Member of Parliament (MP) is heating up daily after the number of aspirants for the election scheduled for March 21, 2023 by the Electoral Commission dwindles.
The seat fell vacant following the former MP Cecilia Atim Ogwal, died of cancer-related illness on January 18th at a hospital in India.
Out of 13 aspirants who initially showed interest, five have stepped down, leaving only eight aspirants.
The aspirants include; Janet Rose Adongo Elau, of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Sarah Aguti Nyakori of the Uganda People Congress (UPC), Dr. Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal, of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Beatrice Molly Abang, Rebecca Arao, Dr. Grace Lalam Atine, Irene Amongi Ajwika, Harriet Ageno of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Christine Acen Otom (UPC leaning) is the latest to step down in favour of Aguti. Lilian Auma and Judith Ayugi, both NRM-independent leaning also stepped down in favour of the party flag-bearer, after an engagement with the party bigwigs.
Auma and Ayugi said they had decided to drop the idea because the party was bigger than them in whatever ways.
“It doesn’t mean I am weak. I am very strong and ready to come back under NRM in the 2026 election,” Auma said in a meeting held at Dokolo parish hall.
Dr. Lalam, Akullu Obot, Amongi Ajwika, and Abang are still in the race despite the party’s director of mobilization Rosemary Seninde, and director of communication, Emmanuel Domo’s attempt to convince them to step down.
Beatrice Akello who had shown interest in vying under the FDC ticket dropped the idea before they could be subjected to primaries with Dr. Alwoc, a daughter to Cecilia Ogwal.
Intricate political atmosphere
Predominantly, Dokolo is one of the strongholds of UPC. Despite that, the late Ogwal’s unique character to serve the community both in Parliament and locally modeled her into a darling of many voters.
It is anticipated that the ground may not be soft for Dr. Alwoc as her presence on the ground has been scanty till when her mother became critically sick. Besides, she is a first timer in politics. This is compounded by her inability to speak Lango dialect fluently. However, her level of social interaction is a big capital to win her support.
This is likely to be strengthened with the willingness of the late’s staunch supporters to vote the daughter to parliament through a sympathy vote.
Meanwhile, UPC’s Aguti and Adongo of NRM are former contestants in the 2021 general elections with each garnering 10,460 and 16,880 votes respectively. The Late won the election with 32,223 votes.
It is predicted that Aguti and Adongo will use their past support to build stronger camps with each aiming to outsmart the other.
However, NRM and UPC are allies as evidenced in the Oyam by-elections of July 2023 when the latter’s candidate won and NRM National Party chairperson said, “The difference between the two was very small”.
The five inexorable independent aspirants who are NRM-Independents are likely to cost the official flag bearer who was unveiled by Seninde on 17 February in Dokolo town council.
Issues to focus at
Tackling poor performance in schools, addressing drug stock outs in the health facilities, upgrading the Dokolo health unit to the district hospital, and advocating for girls’ child education have dominated consultation meetings of the aspirants.
Adongo, is a three-time contender of the seat. She contested in 2016 and 2021 but failed.
“As a resident of Dokolo and a born of this place, I have all along been wanting to provide services to my people and that is the only thing I can return to them to appreciate what they have done for me,” she said.
She added that she wants to contribute to the development of Dokolo and ensure that people get services and support.
Her area of focus is education and she expressed disappointment over the dismal performance of candidates in the last Primary Leaving Examination (PLE).
In 2023 more than 3,000 candidates registered for PLE in the district, but only 185 pupils passed in division one and 927 failed according to the district inspector of schools, David Livingstone Okello.
Okello attributed the high failure rate to absenteeism, parents’ failure to embrace school feeding programs, and failure to report immediately when the school opens.
Dr. Alwoc, a daughter to the Late Cecilia Ogwal, said she has come in to continue with the task of her late mother.
Dr. Alwoc highlighted some of the key issues as support to PLE stars in the district, advocating for girl child education, supporting Village Saving and Loan Association, elderly among others.
The late Cecilia Ogwal had for the past 19 years been providing support to vulnerable girls, which Dr. Alwoc said is her duty to keep doing.
Election road map
The chairperson Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byamukama Mugenyi, on 12th Feb released the roadmap for the Dokolo by-election scheduled for 21st March and the lower local council election for 18th March.
The program started with an update of the voter register on 12th-15th, nomination from 11th-12th, March, campaign from 13th-19th March, and voting on 21st according to the roadmap.
