Lira RCC Office Swamped with Petitions as Controversy Engulfs LCI Elections
At least ten election petitions have been lodged with the Lira City RCC office following the controversial July 28, 2026, LCI elections, with candidates alleging widespread irregularities including vote-rigging, chaos, and voter ineligibility. RCC Emmy Lawrence Egole confirms receipt of complaints but clarifies his office lacks authority to nullify results. Key disputes center on Angwet-Angwet "A" Cell and Atego "A" Cell, where candidates reject declared outcomes and demand fresh polls, while election supervisors defend the process as transparent.
LCC TV NEWS
LIRA CITY, UGANDA – The Office of the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Lira City has become the epicentre of electoral discontent, receiving a flood of at least ten formal petitions from candidates contesting the recently concluded Local Council I (LCI) elections. The wave of complaints has cast a fresh shadow over the credibility of the village-level polls, with unsuccessful candidates demanding urgent intervention.
Confirming the development to reporters, Lira City RCC Emmy Lawrence Egole stated that his office began receiving formal complaints immediately after the elections, with disgruntled candidates alleging widespread irregularities during the July 28, 2026, exercise. Egole noted that the number of petitions is expected to rise as more submissions are being processed.
"All these petitions will be forwarded to the relevant electoral authorities for appropriate action," Egole assured the complainants. However, he was swift to clarify the limits of his office's jurisdiction, emphasizing that the RCC's office lacks the legal mandate to cancel or nullify election results. "Only the legally mandated electoral authorities can determine the validity of these elections," he added.
Allegations of Chaos and Rigging
Among the petitioners is Alex Aporo, who contested the LCI chairperson seat in Angwet-Angwet "A" Cell. Aporo has alleged that the election in his area was marred by chaos, intimidation, and outright vote-rigging. He claimed that election officials initially informed candidates that polling would not take place due to the volatile situation on the ground. However, he later received reports that voting had proceeded after the presiding officer reversed the decision.
"The election in Angwet-Angwet 'A' failed to meet the minimum standards of a free and fair process," Aporo asserted. He has called on the Electoral Commission to cancel the results and organize a fresh poll to restore public confidence.
In a similar vein, Katherine Apule Otyama, another aggrieved candidate, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the electoral outcome and vowed to pursue all available legal avenues to challenge the results, signaling a protracted legal battle over the disputed village seat.
Separate Dispute Emerges in Atego "A" Cell
Meanwhile, a separate electoral storm is brewing in Atego "A" Cell, Atego Ward, Lira City East Division, where three former candidates have collectively rejected the declared results. Yasin Otyang Ogwal and Mohammad Okello, both aspirants in the race, told our reporter that they no longer recognize the leadership declared by election officials, alleging that the process deviated from established electoral procedures.
Yasin claimed that during vote counting, officials failed to publicly identify the winning candidate, leaving residents in the dark until they later learned that Oyena John Bonniface had been declared the victor. Mohammad Okello further alleged that some individuals who participated in the voting were not legitimate residents of Atego "A" Cell, a claim he argued fundamentally compromised the integrity of the election.
"Those who voted were not bona fide residents of this cell. This is a direct violation of electoral laws," Okello charged.
Officials Defend Process
However, Gloria Epila, who supervised the election in Atego "A" Cell, vehemently dismissed the allegations, insisting that the exercise was conducted transparently and in full compliance with electoral guidelines. She advised dissatisfied candidates to seek legal redress through the appropriate channels if they believed the process was unfair.
Efforts by Radio QFM to contact Oyena John Bonniface for a response to the allegations were unsuccessful, as he was unavailable at the time of publication.
Growing Concerns Over LCI Polls
The mounting disputes have amplified growing concerns over the conduct of the LCI elections across parts of Lira City, with candidates increasingly turning to official petitions as they await decisive action from the relevant electoral authorities. As the petitions pile up, all eyes are now on the Electoral Commission to provide clarity and restore faith in the democratic process at the grassroots level.
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