Timothy Jokkene Okee, the NRM party candidate in race for the Gulu municipality Member of Parliament has dismissed reports that he was hospitalized after the defeat.
Shortly after the parliamentary elections, rumour swirled in Gulu that Jokken has been hospitalized.
But at a press conference yesterday Jokkene said he has been healthy—before and after the elections.
“I never suffered any kind of ill- health before or after the elections,” Jokkene told journalists at the Northern Uganda Media Club.
“I don’t know where the rumours [of his hospitalization] are coming from. I have been receiving phone calls from my supporters that I was admitted in the hospital after losing the Parliamentary election,” Jokkene said adding: ‘‘“I don’t treat losing as something which should bother me. I have a lot of work to do.”
Out of five NRM parliamentary candidates in Gulu, only Omoro County’s Jacob Oulanyah was declared winner. Oulanyah is also Deputy Speaker of the 9th parliament whose term is ending.
Jokene described those spreading the rumour that he was hospitalized as childish.
Jokene and six other candidates lost to Lyandro Komakech, flag bearer for the Democratic Party for the Gulu Municipality seat after beating seven other candidates.
Jokene cames second securing 7,281 votes while the DP candidate Komakech garnered 11,510.
Komakech replaces FDC’s Christopher Acire who unsuccessfully ran against FDC strongman Reagan Okumu for Aswa County MP seat.
Other candidates in Gulu Municipality MP race were Wilfred Hiram Ochola (FDC), George Aligech Lapir, Kenneth Odoch, Ray Otii, Henry Komakech Kilama, and Francis Uhuru all independents.