Soroti City East MP Herbert Edmund Ariko has surprised constituents by announcing his intention to contest the Gweri County seat in Soroti district in the 2026 elections. Eleven months after winning a controversial by-election, Ariko, at a local event organized in Gweri County, expressed his decision to represent the constituency currently held by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Tom Julius Ekudo.
Addressing the crowd on December 29, 2023, Ariko, a native of Gweri, shared his deep connection to the area, stating, “I’m a born of this place and it’s here that you will bury me, so as your son, you are in my heart and time has come for me to be with you.” The announcement coincided with a cultural gala organized by Ariko, where the sub-county of Awaliwal emerged as winners.
Ariko cited a perceived lack of appreciation from Soroti City residents for his leadership during his eight-year tenure as MP. He expressed frustration, stating, “I have tried my level best to serve them, but they are not appreciative of my work, and so why should I leave my people of Gweri suffering? What I do is not what they seem to want, and I have noticed that they value parties more than service delivery.”
In the 2021 general election, Ariko lost to Moses Okia Attan of FDC by 439 votes. However, Ariko successfully petitioned the court, alleging the Electoral Commission’s alteration of boundaries. The High Court ruled in favor of Ariko, leading to a controversial by-election in which he emerged as the winner.
Despite securing the Soroti City East seat, Ariko faced challenges as he became the target of public criticism and heckling. He has now expressed his desire to return to his roots in Gweri, where he has actively engaged in fundraisings and cultural events.
In response to Ariko’s announcement, the incumbent Gweri County MP, Tom Julius Ekudo, criticized Ariko as a “greedy leader” and questioned his decision to leave Soroti City East. Ekudo advised Ariko to settle in his current constituency, emphasizing his own financial limitations but assuring patience from his constituents.
The upcoming political contest in Gweri County is expected to intensify, with Ariko seeking a new mandate and facing resistance from the incumbent Ekudo, who dismisses Ariko’s move as driven by greed.
