Bonny Amoki elected NRM chairperson in Oyam town council after leadership dispute

14 May 2025, 7:38 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

The leadership struggle between one farmer and two businessmen vying for the NRM chairperson position in Oyam town council has been settled after two candidates stepped down in favor of their colleague.

In a closed-door meeting held at Rainbow Hotel in Oyam town council, Oyam district LCV Chairperson Benson Dilla Oyuku mediated discussions among the three candidates: Stallon Olong, Chairperson of the Business Community in Oyam town; Bonny Amoki, a prominent businessman in Oyam district; and Christopher Omodo, the former NRM chairperson of Oyam town council. The mediation was successful, and afterward, Dilla visited both camps to unite them for proper reconciliation.

During the mediation, two candidates; Christopher Omodo and Stallon Olong stepped down in favor of Bonny Amoki, who now awaits official confirmation on May 16, 2025, as the newly elected NRM chairperson for Oyam town council.

Speaking during the mediation, Benson Dilla Oyuku emphasised that, after witnessing ongoing leadership struggles in Oyam town council, he felt compelled to intervene.

He stated that as a leader, he could not remain silent, especially since the NRM party in Oyam has a vision to strengthen its presence from the grassroots to the national level.

He further noted that leadership disputes are not limited to Oyam town council but are also present in five other subcounties, including Acaba, where a conflict exists between former chairperson Tonny Otyek and LC3 Chairperson Charles Owot Amuge. Dilla expressed his commitment to resolving these disputes through mediation before the elections on Friday.

Stallon Olong, who stepped down in favor of Bonny Amoki, stated that he did so out of love for the party. He acknowledged that he was confident in his chances of winning but had faced intimidation from various groups within Oyam town council. He urged party leaders to consider placing him in a mainstream position to contribute to the party’s development.

Christopher Omodo, the former chairperson who was seeking re-election, also resigned in favor of Bonny Amoki. He explained that his decision was driven by his love for the party and called upon his supporters to extend the same respect they had shown him to Amoki. He urged voters to elect him as Amoki’s vice-chairperson so he could provide guidance based on his experience in the office.

Bonny Amoki, the newly elected NRM chairperson for Oyam town council, who is awaiting confirmation from the Electoral Commission on Friday, expressed his gratitude for the love and support shown to him. He called on his supporters to respect his fellow aspirants who had stepped down in his favor, emphasising the importance of unity for the good leadership of the NRM party in Oyam town council.

Francis Odongo Alii, speaking on behalf of all NRM supporters and opinion leaders, urged supporters of all three candidates to respect one another and rally behind Amoki as the new chairperson. He also issued a strong warning to the opposition, cautioning them against interfering in matters that do not concern them, declaring that Oyam will be firmly under NRM leadership.