By Mike Rwothomio

Robert Okumu Arule,the former LCV chairperson of Nebbi District has won the directly elected male district councilor position for Panyimur Town Council, Pakwach district in the weeks awaited polls last week.

The election that was to take place on the 22nd of last month, was suspended by Pakwach electoral commission Branch after candidates discovered discrepancies in their assigned symbols on the ballot papers.

The election was then held last week in which Pakwach District returning officer Sarah Nabukera, declared former Nebbi Distrcit LCV Chairperson Okumu Robert Arule the winner of the polls upon garnering 1,234 votes,out polling his independent rival Rova Victor Alex who received 544 votes, after winning 15 of the 16 polling stations.

The polls recorded low record voter turn out with thousands of voters from the predominantly fishing town council failing to turn up to vote, according to reports.

Okumu in his victory address said he will prioritize advocacy for compensation of flood victims from recurrent flooding from Lake Albert, advocate for resettlement package for fishermen chased from the lake due to illegal fishing, amongst others.

He compared his new position to a “district chairman position” emphasizing that the district councilor position is big enough to make him better advocate for his people.

“the district councilor position needs matured people in leadership like me here” stressing the need for unity, love and collaboration for prosperity and development of the area.

Okumu,the towering NRM stalwart Represented the then greater Panyimur then encompassed sub counties of Panyimur, Dei and Panyimur town council for 10 years before becoming the LCV chairperson of Nebbi District before Pakwach was carved out to become a district of its own.

When Pakwach became a district of its own, Arule came back and was elected as the chairperson of the National Resistance Movement party

Okumu after being at the helm of the NRM office in Pakwach for solid 8 years, returned to settle home, said his supporters who believed in his leadership potentisal, went to his home and pleaded with him to contest as the district councilor which he did ultimately delivering him to victory.

The race between the two traced back to the NRM primaries held in Panyimur Town Council last year, where Okumu Robert Arule secured 2,016 votes, while Victor Rova garnered 1,899 votes. The close margin prompted Rova to contest in the general election as an independent.

Pakwach Returning Officer Sarah Nabukera hands over Declaration form to Okumu Robert Arule at EC offices in Pakwach last week. Photo / Pakwach FM

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub