Katakwi – The Vice President of Uganda, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Rose Alupo Epel, has secured a landslide victory in the just-concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) village elections, becoming the Chairperson of the NRM Veterans League for Oigo Imumwa Village, Ongongoja Sub-County, Usuk County, Katakwi District.
Alupo was declared the winner by village election officer Moses Otim after garnering an overwhelming 307 votes, far ahead of her sole challenger, Charles Alongu, who received only 5 votes. The elections were conducted by lining up behind candidates, a method commonly used in NRM grassroots polls.
Alongu, a former arrow boy who had campaigned on the promise of pushing for iron sheet distribution to veterans who fought the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Teso sub-region, conceded defeat and congratulated Alupo, praising the process as free and fair.
In her victory speech, Alupo assured voters that the government had already procured consignments of iron sheets for veterans and promised continued advocacy on their behalf. She added that Alongu would be a vital community link in her leadership.
“I will use Alongu as someone who will help bridge the community’s concerns with my office as I engage with the government on veterans’ issues,” Alupo said.
While Alupo’s position was contested, the remaining veterans’ league committee positions went unopposed. The Vice President remained on-site throughout the process, guiding the election and calling for transparency and order.
She also raised concerns over missing names in the NRM yellow register, noting that 76 voters were not listed, although only 8 or 9 were expected to be missing. She encouraged residents to ensure they are properly registered in the yellow book to avoid disenfranchisement in future elections.
“Don’t you think I will miss many votes if you don’t register? If the secretariat issues a directive that no one should vote unless their name is in the yellow book, what shall we do?” she warned.
Alupo also used the occasion to caution against the commercialization of politics and urged community members to embrace government livelihood programs to improve their welfare.
NRM Electoral Commission Vice Chairperson Fred Omach, who supervised the elections, praised the exercise as one of the most transparent and peaceful among the 72,000 villages nationwide. He also authorised that those whose names were missing from the register but recorded in the exercise book be allowed to vote — a decision widely welcomed by residents.
NRM Secretary-General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong took to social media to commend the smooth conduct of the village elections across the country. He encouraged the same spirit of unity and discipline as the party prepares for the upcoming parish-level elections.
“Leadership is about service. Listen to your people, work with them, and deliver results,” Todwong said while addressing local leaders in Purongo Town Council, Nwoya District.
Over 312 voters were registered for the village-level elections in Oigo Imumwa, marking a strong turnout for a process seen as foundational to NRM’s grassroots mobilisation efforts.