At least nine (9) Members of Parliament (MPs) from Acholi have failed in their bid to return to Parliament after losing in the just concluded parliamentary election.
Notable among the losers in the January 14, 2021 election include Ronald Reagan Okumu of Aswa County in Gulu District, Samuel Odonga-Otto of Aruu County, Judith Franka Akello, Agago District Woman MP and Prof Morris Ogenga- Latigo of Agago North County.
Okumu lost to NRM’s Simon Peter Wokorach who garnered 6,392 against Okumu’s 2,343. Okumu was first elected to Parliament 1996 and had since never lost an election. He is a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
Samuel Odonga-Otto, the Aruu County Member of Parliament also suffered a shock defeat after he was beaten by Christopher Komakech (Independent). Komakech polled 9,327 votes while Odonga’s 5,953.
In the Agago District Woman MP race, Beatrice Akello Akori of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) beat Judith Franka Akello of the FDC. Akori garnered 31, 450 votes against Akello’s 26,564. Lillian Abalo came third with just 3,712 votes.
John Amos Okot of the NRM bounced back to Parliament after beating Prof. Morris Ogenga- Latigo, for the Agago North Parliamentary seat. Okot garnered 7,943 votes to Prof. Ogenga’s 4,276. Ogenga-Latigo who run on Independent ticket came third in the race.
State Minister for Environment, Beatrice Anywar also failed to make it to Parliament after she lost her Kitgum Municipality seat to Denis Onekalit Amerehe of the FDC. Onekalit got 3,263 votes.
The incumbent, Edward Otto Makmot also lost in Agago County race to Richard Ricky Anywar (NRM).
Other incumbents who lost in the parliamentary race are Lilly Adong, the Nwoya District Woman MP, Simon Oyet (Nwoya County) and Molly Lanyero (Lamwo Woman MP).