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Vote recount halted in Aruu County parliamentary race

24 January 2026, 6:37 am

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Pader. Photo: Courtesy.

By Okwong Geoffrey

Following a court order for a vote recount of the 15 January 2026 parliamentary election results contested between incumbent MP Christopher Komakech and Independent candidate Samuel Odonga Otto, the court on Friday, 23 January 2026, halted the recount, citing irregularities involving election materials.

The recount was ordered after Odonga Otto lost the race by a margin of 26 votes.

Recount halted in Odonga Otto–Komakech case over tampered ballot boxes

Chief Magistrate Martins Kirya of Pader, delivering his ruling during the scheduled recount proceedings, confirmed that five ballot boxes were found with tampered seals, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

Court records indicate that the Electoral Commission (EC) Returning Officer failed to appear for the recount despite a lawful summons, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Acting on the order, Jackson Bogere, District Police Commander (DPC) for Pader District, produced the Returning Officer before the court under arrest, allowing the Magistrate to proceed with inquiries into the custody and condition of the ballot boxes.

The Magistrate noted that the compromised seals undermined the credibility of the recount exercise, leading to its suspension. Consequently, the matter is set to proceed to the High Court after the statutory 21-day period. In the interim, Christopher Komakech is expected to be gazetted as Member of Parliament, subject to the outcome of the High Court proceedings.

Samuel Odonga Otto, the Aruu County MP candidate, reacted to the ruling, noting that the Magistrate’s confirmation of the tampered ballot boxes — now critical evidentiary material — is likely to shape the forthcoming High Court case.

Odonga, addressing his supporters, said the possible outcomes before the High Court could include the nullification of the election and the ordering of a fresh poll in Pader, should the court find that the irregularities substantially affected the results.