NRM’s Sarah Inachu withdraws election petition against Joan Alobo

13 July 2026, 4:44 pm

In the petition, Inachu accused the Electoral Commission of failing to conduct a free and fair election, claiming that the Soroti City Returning Officer unlawfully declared Alobo the winner despite what she described as flawed election results.

Inachu blamed the election officials for allegedly allowing voters not in the voters’ registers and without valid voter location slips, to vote in several polling stations, which tantamount to what she called electoral malpractice.

By Alexander Mackey Okori

TESO:The former Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament aspirant on the NRM party ticket in the 2026 general elections, Sarah Inachu, has formally retracted election petition, in which she was challenging the victory the Joan Alobo of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.

Inacu had filed a petition early this year at the Soroti High Court challenging the 2026 parliamentary elections.

She asked the court to nullify Alobo’s election and order for fresh poll, arguing that the electoral process was marred by serious irregularities that substantially affected the final outcome.

According to her 36-page petition filed on March 10, 2026, Inachu polled 10,085 votes, while Alobo was declared the winner with 19,040 votes. 

The 2026 parliamentary election also featured independent candidates including Juliet Agonyo, Emilly Sheila Amulo, and Priscilla Apolot.

In the petition, Inachu accused the Electoral Commission of failing to conduct a free and fair election, claiming that the Soroti City Returning Officer unlawfully declared Alobo the winner despite what she described as flawed election results.

Inachu blamed the election officials for allegedly allowing voters not in the voters’ registers and without valid voter location slips, to vote in several polling stations, which tantamount to what she called electoral malpractice.

The petitioner further alleged that Alobo engaged in voter bribery giving Shs 200,000 to each of the 27 Electoral Commission supervisors in Soroti City to facilitate acts such as pre-ticking of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and multiple voting. 

Inachu argued that these alleged irregularities considerably influenced the election results and denied voters a free and transparent electoral process.

However, during a court session presided over by Justice Boniface Wamala on Monday, July 13, 2026, Inachu withdrew the case, leaving Alobo as the duly elected Woman Member of Parliament for Soroti City.

She stated that her decision to withdraw the case arose from the spirit of togetherness, unity, peace and reconciliation for the people of Soroti City.

Inachu added that her decision was also informed by guidance and consultations with different religious, opinion and political leaders including Capt. George Michael Mukula, Bishop Kosea Odongo, Rt. Rev. Dr. Bishop Joseph Eciru Oliach, and the NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, Calvin Eciru, among others.

However, Richard Okalang, who represented Sarah Inachu, said they reached the decision to withdraw the case considering time and the high costs of mobilizing evidence to mount the challenge in court.

Meanwhile, Joan Alobo accepted the withdrawal of costs and thanked the judge and her lawyers for standing with her during the case.

She also applauded her lawyers, and the voters who stood with her in prayers day and night to ensure that the petition was dismissed.

Francis Gimara, Alobo’s lead counsel commended his client for the spirit of unity, community building, and magnanimity in conceding to waive costs from Inachu.

On her part, Teddy Acam, the NRM state mobilizer and Presidential Advisor, thanked both parties for coming together in a spirit of reconciliation.