Outgoing Ajuri County Member of Parliament, Hamson Obua, has formally conceded defeat following the declaration of results for the 2026–2031 parliamentary elections. 

UPC’s Fred Jalameso was declared the winner of the Ajuri County parliamentary race, after securing 16,336 votes to defeat NRM’s Denis Hamson Obua, who garnered 15,568 votes. 

In his concession statement, Obua thanked the people of Ajuri County for their support over the years:

“I concede the declared results. I thank the people of Ajuri County for granting me an opportunity to serve them as their Area MP,” Obua said.

Reflecting on his years in office, he emphasized his continued commitment to public service beyond elective politics:

“I have served the people of Ajuri County and made my contribution to the best of my abilities. For the next five years, I pledge to continue serving my country Uganda, my party NRM, and the people of Northern Uganda and Lango/Ajuri outside elective politics,”Obua said.

He also congratulated his successor, wishing them well in their new role:

“I congratulate and wish the newly elected MP for Ajuri County good luck in service,”Obua added.

The electoral commission declared Fred Jalameso, a former teacher, the winner after a partial re-run was conducted in 18 polling stations following disputes over initial results. Jalameso secured a narrow victory, reflecting the growing competitiveness of elections in a region long dominated by the ruling party.

Jalameso has stated that his priorities will include service delivery, agriculture and youth employment, signaling a renewed focus on local development.

Obua, who first won the seat in 2011, served in several high-profile roles, including Government Chief Whip and State Minister for Sports. He previously served as a Youth Member of Parliament representing the Northern Region from 2006-2011.

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The National Resistance Movement National Executive Committee has endorsed Anita Annet Among and Thomas Tayebwa for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament ahead of the first sitting of the 12th Parliament.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the party’s top organ, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, yesterday. 

The endorsement is expected to be formally communicated to the NRM parliamentary caucus, which will meet ahead of the election of Parliament’s leadership.

Among, those who has been Speaker since 2022, was elected unopposed as Bukedea District Woman Member of Parliament. Within party circles, she is credited for steering parliamentary business during the final years of the 11th Parliament and for playing a visible role in mobilising support for the ruling party during the recent elections.

Tayebwa, the Ruhinda North Member of Parliament, was also returned unopposed and currently serves as Deputy Speaker. He previously served as Government Chief Whip and is regarded as one of the party’s key organisers, particularly in western Uganda. Senior party officials have credited him for helping consolidate NRM support in areas that had shown growing opposition influence.

However, Tayebwa’s endorsement comes amid emerging internal competition within the ruling party. Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality Member of Parliament Iddi Basajja, son of businessman and NRM entrepreneur Hassan Basajjabalaba declared interest in contesting for the Deputy Speaker position.

Basajjaba, a first time legislator has presented himself as part of a new generation of leaders advocating for inclusiveness and stronger parliamentary independence. His declaration introduces an unexpected dynamic into a race that had initially appeared settled following the NEC endorsement.

Under the NRM arrangement, the parliamentary caucus will decide whether to adopt the NEC position or allow a competitive contest among interested members. The final decision will be made on the floor of Parliament during the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker at the start of the new term.

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The Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered a recount of all ballots cast in the Kalungu East parliamentary election in a bid to establish the exact number of votes obtained by each candidate.

The directive was issued by Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe following an application by former Minister of Defence Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, who challenged the declaration of National Unity Platform candidate Yusufu Kiruruuta Nkeretanyi as the winner of the January 15 polls.

According to results announced by the Electoral Commission, Nkeretanyi was declared the winner with 15,473 votes, defeating Ssempijja, who polled 13,298 votes. Ssempijja, however, disputed the margin, arguing that it could not be reconciled with the ballot papers contained in the ballot boxes.

In his ruling, Magistrate Asiimwe said delaying the recount would only prolong uncertainty and escalate the dispute to higher courts unnecessarily.

“Delaying this application would mean that the applicant waits to file a petition in the High Court after gazettement, yet a recount would resolve the dispute quickly and at a lower cost,” Asiimwe ruled.

He noted that refusing the application would perpetuate uncertainty among voters in Kalungu East and the wider public.

“Disallowing the application would maintain anxiety among the people and voters of Kalungu East and the state where they are not sure of who their Member of Parliament is,” he said.

The magistrate further observed that election materials were safely stored and that the applicant’s claim of a fictitious vote margin warranted verification through a full recount.

“Considering that the election materials are in safe custody and that the applicant alleges the respondent won with a vote margin not traceable in the ballot boxes, I find that a recount of all ballot papers in all polling stations is the most appropriate solution,” Asiimwe ruled.

He emphasised that the recount would ensure transparency and clarity for all participants in the election.

“Every participant in the election will be in a position to know exactly how they scored in the parliamentary election conducted on fifteenth January, two thousand and twenty six,” he said.

Magistrate Asiimwe declined to award costs to either party, noting that allegations of irregularities were directed at the returning officer and electoral staff who were not parties to the application.

“I cannot be seen condemning the returning officer or the Electoral Commission at large, and neither can I condemn the respondent since it was not his duty to tally and declare results,” he ruled, adding that each party would bear its own costs.

The court ordered that the recount of all ballot papers from every polling station in Kalungu East be conducted at the Kalungu District Electoral Commission offices starting at 3pm the same day (today). The magistrate noted that the timing complied with the legal window provided under the Parliamentary Elections Act for conducting recounts.

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