Lira RCC Office Flooded with Petitions Following Controversial Lira City LCI Elections

30 July 2026, 10:12 pm

By Hillary Opio Omara

The Office of the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Lira City has received at least ten election petitions from candidates contesting the recently concluded Local Council I (LCI) elections, raising fresh concerns over the credibility of the village polls.

Speaking after receiving the petitions,Lira City RCC Emmy Lawrence Egole confirmed that his office had begun receiving formal complaints from unsuccessful candidates alleging widespread irregularities during the July 28 2026 elections.

Egole said more petitions were still being submitted and assured complainants that every case would be forwarded to the relevant electoral authorities for appropriate action.

He clarified,however,that the RCC’s office has no legal mandate to cancel or nullify election results,noting that only the legally mandated electoral authorities can determine the validity of the elections.

One of the petitioners,Alex Aporo,who contested for the LCI chairperson seat in Angwet-Angwet “A” Cell,alleged that the election was marred by chaos,intimidation, and vote-rigging.

Aporo claimed that election officials had initially informed candidates that there will be no election on that day due to chaos.

However,he later received reports that election was taking place after Presiding officer said there would be no election on that day due to chaos.

He further argued that the election in Angwet-Angwet “A” failed to meet the standards of a free and fair election and called on the Electoral Commission to cancel the results and organize a fresh poll.

Another candidate,Katherine Apule Otyama, also expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome,saying she would pursue all legal avenues to challenge the results.

Meanwhile,a separate election dispute has emerged in Atego “A”Cell,Atego Ward,Lira City East Division,where three former candidates have rejected the declared results.

Candidates Yasin Otyang Ogwal and Mohammad Okello told our writer that they no longer recognize the declared leadership, alleging that the election process violated electoral procedures.

Yasin claimed election officials failed to publicly identify the winning candidate during vote counting,but residents later learned that Oyena John Bonniface had been declared the winner.

Mohammad Okello also alleged that some individuals who participated in the voting were not legitimate residents of Atego A Cell, a claim he said compromised the integrity of the election.

However,Gloria Epila,who supervised the election in Atego “A” Cell,dismissed the allegations,insisting that the election was conducted transparently and advising dissatisfied candidates to seek legal redress through the appropriate channels if they believed the process was unfair.

Radio QFM attempted to contact Oyena John Bonniface for comment on the allegations,but he was unavailable by the time this story was published.

The disputed elections add to growing concerns over the conduct of the recently concluded LCI polls in parts of Lira City,with candidates increasingly seeking official intervention through petitions while awaiting decisions from the relevant electoral authorities.