By Etoil A Karamoja News Team
The just concluded 2026 Parliamentary elections held on Thursday 15, 2025, have delivered a mix of tremors, upsets, and validation as political heavyweights fell to newcomers, while some incumbents managed to retain their positions in tightly contested races across the Karamoja Sub-region.
The weightiest upset in the region was registered in Nakapiripirit district, the minister of Karamoja Affairs, Dr. Peter Lokeris, who was running for Member of Parliament for Chekwii East as an independent suffered defeat to Stephenson Yoyo, NRM flag bearer.
Lokeris, who has been in parliament since 1996, opted to run as an independent after losing the NRM flag to Lokoru in the party primaries held on July 14, 2025, however things didn’t work in his favor.
This marks one of the generational shifts in the Karamoja political landscape as the region.
Lokoru, was declared Member of Parliament elect for Chekwii East County with 4,539 votes, minister Peter Lokeris against Lokeris 3,802 votes while Fred Kalibala an independent polled only 69 votes.
Meanwhile Esther Anyakun, the state minister for Gender, Labour, and Social Development retained her seat after beating three other contenders.
Anyakun won with 16,275 votes followed by journalist turned politician Lilly Lopuwa Lodar an independent 11,675 while the Forum for Democratic (FDC)’s candidate, Zipora Natee trailed with 705 votes.
In Chekwii Madam County, the incumbent Moses Aleper, lost his re-election bid to Simon Longoli, NRM flag bearer.
KOTIDO
In Kotido, the Vice Chairperson LCV, Nuria Hasfa Teko, who ran as an independent, pulled a stunning victory over the incumbent Woman Member of Parliament, Margarete Aleper, who has held the position since 2006.
According to official results announced by the Kotido district returning officer, Julius Ongom Ogwang, on Friday Nuria Teko secured 28,820 votes against Aleper’s 25,962 votes.
In Jie County race, Peter Abrahamas Lokii lost the seat to Gabriel Achia Lokiru of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
According to the official results, Achia Lokiru garnered 28,972 votes while Lokii polled 10,525 votes.
Ismail Lomwar, NRM flag bearer, was lucky to retain his seat as Kotido Municipality Member of Parliament despite stiff competition from Moses Adome Bildad, an independent.
Lomwar emerged a victor with 8,320 votes against Adome’s 6,329 votes.
MOROTO
In Moroto, the incumbents maintained their dominance over newcomers as they all managed to retain their seats.
Stella Atyanga, the incumbent Woman MP was on Friday, January 16, 2026, declared winner by the Moroto district returning officer Esther Immaculate Ajwang with 18,557 votes.
Lucy Apio Chegem, an independent followed her with 7,199 votes, Hellen Kiyai of Forum for Democratic Change polled 1,028 votes while Bonisca Apuun, an independent candidate trailed with 652 votes.
Francis Adome Lorika, the incumbent MP for Moroto Municipality-NRM flag-bearer also retained his seat after garnering 2,307 votes in the hotly contested race.
Fred Angela, an independent got 2,109 votes, Charles Adiaka Achotoi, an independent emerged third with 43 votes.
Zainabu Angela Ali of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party garnered 24 votes, while the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate George Francis Ojamuge, trailed with 20 votes.
Tepeth County, the incumbent Michael Wilson Lokawau, NRM flag bearer lost his re-election bid to Albert Lokoru
For Tepeth County, Albert Lokoru who opted to contest as an independent after losing the NRM primaries emerged a winner with 4,246 votes, defeating his opponents, Michael Wilson Lokawa, who got 2,368 votes, and Robert Logit (NUP), who scored 87 votes.
John Baptist Lokii (NRM) retained his Matheniko County seat after scoring 8,487 votes, edging out Abura Ceaser Akol (Ind), who got 6,674 votes, and Dean Raphael Lotukei (Ind) 1,095 votes.
ABIM
In Abim district the incumbent Woman Member of Parliament Janet Grace Aketcho Okorimoe and Labwor County MP Jimmy Bricky Norman Ochero suffered a major defeat after being trounced by the independents.
Joyce Ayo Makamoe won the race for the Woman Member of Parliament with 16, 240 against Aketcho Okorimoe’s 12,230 votes.
For Labwor county, Michael Ayepa, the former Member of Parliament bounced back trouncing the incumbent Jimmy Bricky Norman Ochero and four others.
According to declared results obtained by our reporter, Michael Ogwang, Ayepa who contested under the NRM ticket, polled 10,661 votes against Ochero’s 7,845 votes.
Dr. Patrick Ojok, got 7,451 votes, Daneil Owinyi (NUP) garnered 519 votes, Francis Okello Banton polled 359 votes while Paul Odongo (FDC) trailed with 313 votes.
KAABONG
Kaabong district produced mixed results with two incumbents losing their seats to the newcomers, while others retained their seats.
Cathy Achia, NRM flag bearer unseated the incumbent district Woman Member of Parliament Christine Nakwang, who contested as an independent.
Our reporter Dominic Oketcho reported that Achia, was declared Member of Parliament elect after polling 14,045 votes while Nakwang emerged as second runner up with 7,557 votes.
Felister Akol, independent, emerged third with 5,728 votes followed by Stella Lokel also independent in fourth position with 4,867 votes.
Democratic Party’s candidate Betty Ajilong polled 516 votes, Mwavita Alisa of FDC garnered 493 votes and Regena of the National Unity Platform (NUP) managed 352 votes.
In Dodoth East County, Emmanuel Komol who contested as an independent, lost the seat to former Soroti Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Peter Pex Paak, an NRM flag-bearer.
Paak won the hotly contested race with 10, 159 votes while Komol got 5,632 votes, placing him as the second runner-up, Moses Longolemo (Independent) became the third with 552 votes.
Meri Jino, the former LCV Kaabong district garnered 474 votes, Pascal Nyanga (DP) 306 votes while Aliseo Adupa managed to collect only 123 votes.
Joseph Komol Midi, retained his seat for Dodoth North with 8,350 votes, his closest challenger Augustine Modo got 5,074 votes and Daniel Apeyo Moe of Democratic Party (DP) got 286 votes.
In IK county, Hillary Lokwang was voted back with 1,645 votes against 914 votes garnered by his only challenger Daniel Lokol Lotengan, independent.
KARENGA
In the woman MP race, the state minister for ethics and integrity Rose Lilly Akello retained her seat with 8,758 votes while her only opponent Doreen Loy Imen, independent, secured 7,957 votes.
For Napore West County, Fidelis Logwel Loluk, an independent, trounced the incumbent Philip Lokwang Ilukol (NRM).
Logwel Loluk garnered 2, 919 votes against Lokwang’s 2,747 votes.
Meanwhile, Ben Banton Koryanga retained his seat as Member of Parliament for Dodoth West after beating his two rivals.
He secured 4,655 votes, and was closely followed by Felix Mark Locaael, the former LCV chairperson Karenga, (Independent) with 4,476, Dida Lodou got 2,982 votes.
NABILATUK
In Nabilatuk, Emmanuel Lokubal, independent dethrone the incumbent Sylivia Awasi (NRM). Lokubal secured 10,625 votes while Awasi trailed with 7,427.
Remigeo Achia (NRM) retained his seat for Pian County with 9,880 votes followed by Paul Lokol, the former LCV chairperson for Nabilatuk district with 5,337.
James Jimmy Lomer (independent) got 1,819, Godfrey Abura, 260, and Joseph Alakas secured 208 votes.
AMUDAT
Another notable defeat occurred in Amudat district on July 1, 2010 from Nakapiripirit, where the incumbent Woman MP Betty Chelain, who was running as an independent was unseated by Pheupiph Rufina, NRM flag bearer.
According to the results announced by the district returning officer, Denise Robert Ebong Opeto, Pheupiph secured 16,724 votes, Chelain got 7,315 votes, Florence Katikati- independent 1,193 votes, Neuwap Rose Mary, an independent 8,070 votes and Evelyn Chi-Chi, independent got 6,517 votes.
In UPE County, the incumbent Mica Lolem Akasile, NRM flag-bearer retained his seat edging out his two challengers.
Lolem Akasile, garnered 16,782 votes, Kippereit Christopher Akorikimoi-independent got 14,587 votes while Francis Kiyonga, independent, collected 8,455 votes.
NAPAK
For Napak district, Faith Nakut, NRM flag-bearer, retained district Woman Member of Parliament with 17,267 votes, edging out Stella Namoi an independent, who secured 15,796 votes.
John Bosco Ngoya, the incumbent MP for Bokora County was unseated by Emmanuel Ilukol, NRM flag bearer.
Ilukol was declared winner with 9,065 votes while Ngoya secured 8,964 votes.
In Bokora East County, Peter Ken Lochap, NRM flag-bearer emerged victorious after beating two other contenders.
Lochap garnered 8,177 votes, the former LCV chairperson Napak, Joseph Lomonyang, independent, got 7,613 votes and Robert Adupa secured 1, 152 votes.
Compile by Alexander Mackey Okori, Lazaro Apunyo, Bondry Kilenga, Michael Ogwang, Moses Lokeris, Dominic Oketcho, and Yasom Onyang
