The flagbearer of NRM in the Soroti East By-election Herbert Edmund Ariko was last night declared the duly elected winner of the tightly contested Soroti East By-election.
According to the Soroti East returning officer Ms Christine Eyu, the total number of voters were 18,293. Herbert Ariko got 9,407 votes while FDC’S flagbearer Moses Attan got 8,771 votes.
UPC’s Pascal Amuriat got 115 votes whereas the invalid votes were 107.
“Having added up the number of votes cast as recorded on each declaration of results form in accordance with Section 53 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, I declare that Herbert Ariko Edmund who has obtained the largest number of votes to be the elected candidate for Soroti East Division constituency,” Ms Eyu said Thursday evening.
This election was however characterized by a number of illegalities. These included voters bribery, ballot stuffing, arrest of campaign agents especially those of Moses Attan.
“On polling day, voting at Omalera mango tree polling station was suspended for hours after some people allegedly ferried from Kumi and Bukedea districts were found stuffing ballots,” wrote the Daily Monitor.
The Electoral Commission chairman Justice Simon Byabakama also before the winner was announced said that the elected MP would have a lot to do to unite the electorate in Soroti “following what happened today.”
Police and other government vehicles with concealed license plates were allegedly seen on the streets of Soroti city. This raised concern among opposition members.
During campaigns, both NRM and FDC bigwigs pitched camp in Soroti East to drum up support for their respective candidates.
NRM members have already started congratulating Herbert Ariko upon this win.
