At least 24 of 32 district councilors in Gulu who were in the 9th Council have failed to retain their seats. The NRM suffered the heaviest with only three of their sixteen councilors making it back in the 10th council.
NRM councilors who lost include Joyce Renny Alima, the Deputy Speaker who represented the youth in the council, the three time councilor for Palaro Sub County, Chris Owen Okoya and Kenneth Nyeko, who represented Ongako Sub County for terms.
NRM councilors who opted to run for other offices included Billy Graham Olanya, the District Councilor for Odek Sub County who run for the District LCV Chairperson seat but lost to the incumbent, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi.
Another NRM district Councilor who also lost in the just conclude election is Alfred Okwonga (Pece division) who failed to win the Gulu Mayoral race.
Only eight out of the 32 Gulu councilors were able to win back their seats. The eight are; John Okwonga, (Unyama), Rose Amono Abili, (Woman- Bungatira), Stella Lillian Lalam, (Woman- Awach, Palaro and Patiko) and Santa Oketta, (Woman- Layibi).
Others are Christopher Opiyo Ateker, (Awach), Douglas Peter Okello(the current District Speaker) who represents Lalogi Sub County, Francisco Watdok Awori, (Koro) and Damasco Odongo, the District Councilor V for Lakwana Sub County.
Barlington Olweny P’Ongwech, the former Councilor for Bungatira Sub County who lost as an independent candidate blames his loss on internal fights within his party—FDC.
P’Ogwech’s woes began when he met President Museveni at Gulu Military barracks with four other FDC who all lost the subsequently lost the elections.
The new faces in the Gulu district council are: John Ben Okello, (Bar-Dege division), Simon Peter Oola, (Pece division), Richard Otika, (Ongako Sub County), Amos P’ Lakidi, (Bungatira Sub County), Richard Maxwell Ocen, (Patiko Sub County), Patrick Kinyera, (Palaro Sub County) and Beatrice Aloyo, (Women- Laroo and Bar-Dege).
Other new faces include: Hellen Aber Uma, (Women- Unyama and Paicho), Vicky Otuko, (Bobi Sub County), Susan Lakot, (Women-Ongako and Koro Sub Counties), Justine Obol Simpleman, (Laroo Division), Pascal Nyerere Aron, (Odek Sub County), Francisca Amony, (Women- Pece), George Okwete, (Layibi division), Everlyn Gloria Piloya, (Paicho sub county), Anna Arach Oloya, (Odek) Carrolyne Nyakorach, (Women- Lakwana and Lalogi), Walter To-otika and Nancy Akello (youth), , Denis Ocen Lakwonyero and Teddy Aciro Luwar, (PWDs), and, Betty Acan Tino and Okwonga Latigo, for Older persons.
They are to be sworn by next week.
