The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leadership has announced its decision to forego conducting primaries for the Dokolo by-election. Instead, they have selected Janet Adongo Elau, the party’s flagbearer in the 2021 parliamentary elections, to vie for the Dokolo Woman Member of Parliament seat left vacant by the passing of Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal on January 18.
In the 2021 parliamentary elections, Cecilia Ogwal retained her seat after securing 32,223 votes, while Janet Adongo Elau, representing the NRM, came second with 16,880 votes. Sarah Aguti Nyangkori of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) garnered 10,460 votes in the hotly contested race.
Following Cecilia Ogwal’s demise, her family endorsed Dr. Rosemary Alwoc Ogwal as her successor in the by-election. However, over 10 other aspirants, including Beatrice Molly Abang, Rebecca Arao, Ruth Frances Atala Adupa, Dr. Esther Akullo Obot Otada, Hanna Rose Lalam, Irene Amongi Ajwika, Dr. Theresa Auma Odur Ellu, Harriet Ageno Menidiro of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Christine Acen Otom (NUP), and Aguti, also declared their intentions to run, with some running as independents.
During a meeting with NRM officials, Judith Ayugi and Lillian Auma Okullu expressed disinterest in pursuing the seat. However, Beatrice Molly Abang stated her refusal to step down, citing the importance of consensus in democracy. Similarly, Irene Amongi Ajwika emphasized the need for a leader capable of serving the people of Dokolo regardless of political affiliations.
NRM mobilization chief Rosemary Nansubuga Seninde clarified that the party would not hold primaries again for the Dokolo by-election, as Janet Adongo Elau had already been designated as the flagbearer for the 2021 elections. She emphasized the party’s stance on independent candidates, stating that individuals either run as official flagbearers or as independents, without any affiliation to the NRM.
