Justice Minister, Mao: Attan did not lose, justifies DP-NRM cooperation

NRM’s candidate Ariko defeated FDC’s Attan, according to the official results released by the electoral commission [EC].

By Milton Emmy Akwam

Soroti, Uganda – July 29, 2022: The Soroti East MP by-election ended on Thursday with the National Resistance Movement [NRM] candidate taking the day.

The week-long political activities were obvious to go in the way of the Forum for Democratic Change [FDC] candidate Attan or NRM’s Ariko.

The UPC man, courageous of the victories, came third.

The two candidates, now loser and winner won the hearts of their party presidents whom both campaigned for them.

Both Museveni and Patrick Oboi Amuriat campaigned for their flag bearers. The latter also was joined by the opposition leaders from the National Unity Platform [NUP] led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.

It is further worth noting that all along, during nominations and campaigns by both candidates and their allies, Soroti City, in general, was busy; some locals were frightened as a result of ‘heavy security presence which has become a norm in Uganda’s politics.

Regime’s bigwigs, from the Prime Minister to the Vice President and ruling party leaders and MPs camped in Soroti [East] for victories. These leaders fed ‘their voters’ and demanded more from them on Thursday [polling day].

Final results

According to the Returning Officer of Soroti City Electoral district Eyu Christine, Ariko Herbert Edmund won with 9,407 votes, and the FDC’s Attan Okia Moses got 8771 votes.

She also declared UPC’s Amuriat Pascal with only 115 votes.

According to the electoral commission, the total number of valid votes counted was 18,606; the total number of invalid votes was 313 and the total number of valid votes was 18,293.

Mao’s thoughts

Democratic Party was the only known party not to field a candidate for this particular by-election. Uganda People’s Congress [UPC] fully participated by endorsing.

On Friday, the Democratic Party [DP] President also Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao took to Twitter and said:

“Soroti gives meaning & makes moral sense of the terms of the DP-NRM Cooperation Agreement. Attan did not lose….,” said Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao.