By Alexander Mackey Okori
Rescheduled National Resistance Movement (NRM) party structure elections in Kotido Municipality held on Wednesday May 21, 2025, were marred by protests , leading to a temporary halt in proceedings and a visible security presence.
The elections, which began peacefully at 12:00 PM, descended into chaos after John Paul Namuya, the Kotido District NRM party chairman, declared Peter Lonya the winner for the position of NRM mainstream chairperson for Kotido Municipality.
Lonya polled 79 votes, narrowly defeating former Jie County MP Moses Bildard Adome, who garnered 74 votes.
Shortly after Namuya’s announcement, supporters believed to be aligned with Adome, who had been observing the election from outside, attempted to force their way into the Kotido Municipal council offices where the elections were being held.
The visibly agitated group of predominantly young supporters stormed the municipal gate, demanding that security personnel allow them access to the venue.
Efforts by Kotido District Police Commander (DPC) Hassan Ssekalema to de-escalate the situation proved futile.
Police, in conjunction with the army, resorted to firing live bullets into the air to disperse the rowdy crowd.
The commotion brought business at the polling center to a standstill for approximately 30 minutes, with several supporters fleeing the area in fear for their lives.
Normalcy returned to the polling station around 1:20 PM, and election officials, led by Namuya, resumed the process.
However, Adome and his supporters vehemently protested the conduct of the elections.
They specifically questioned the alleged participation of former councilors in the structure elections, arguing that they were not part of the Electoral College.
Their appeals for an explanation went unheeded as officials continued with the elections, prompting Adome and his faction to boycott the election of the remaining positions.
Margaret Aleper Achilla, the Kotido Woman MP, attempted to persuade Namuya to halt the elections until the party secretariat clarified the eligibility of voters, but her pleas were unsuccessful.
Following their boycott, Adome, who lost the NRM party chairman position for Kotido Municipality, was carried by his supporters through the town, chanting his name.
This procession paralyzed business as residents left their shops to witness the unfolding events.
The NRM party structure elections for municipality level were held on Monday May 19, 2025.
However, in Kotido municipality, the elections were postponed by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman Dr. Tanga Odoi over alleged violence and voter bribery among others irregularities.
The elections were then rescheduled for Wednesday May 21, 2025 and it remains to be seen whether the NRM secretariat will consider the outcome of the elections held amidst protest.
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