NRM's Leku clinches Adjumani West by-election amidst low voter turnout

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, James Leku Pili, has been declared the winner of the Adjumani West by-election, securing 12,432 votes. He succeeds the late General Moses Ali, who had long represented the constituency. Leku Pili narrowly defeated independent candidate Gasper Draga, who garnered 2,559 votes.

The by-election, held on September 17, 2026, was marked by a notably low voter turnout. Out of 51,437 registered voters, only 15,216 cast their ballots, a concern highlighted by election observers.

The seat became vacant following the passing of General Moses Ali on July 18, 2026. Leku Pili secured the NRM ticket after a close party primary contest against Ben Anyama. While the parliamentary race initially had four candidates, Anyama and Patrick Tandrupasi later withdrew, leaving Leku Pili to face Draga.

Election observers, including those from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and the Global Election Observation Mission (GEOM), reported a largely peaceful process. Election materials arrived on time, polling began as scheduled at most stations, and biometric verification kits functioned well. The security environment remained calm, with observers noting orderly conduct from candidates, supporters, and security personnel.

Despite the peaceful nature of the election, the low participation was the most significant issue raised. Some polling stations experienced delays in opening due to a lack of initial voters. Observers also noted that Leku Pili’s agents were more widely deployed than Draga’s.

Following his victory, Leku Pili pledged to continue the development agenda of his predecessor and called for unity within the constituency. Independent candidate Gasper Draga conceded defeat for the sake of peace, though he raised concerns about alleged irregularities. NRM leaders emphasized the importance of unity post-election and credited the victory to a focus on local issues.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)