AKENA ALFRED AND OTTO WILSON WINS LC5 SEAT IN AGAGO AND PADER; OJOK ALEO, COL. RTD FEARLESS OBWOYA AND OPIO ATEKER DEFEATED
By TAYARI NEWS TEAM
Pader/Agago – 23 January 2026 – The final tallies from local council elections in Pader and Agago districts have been released, confirming a decisive win for Otto Wilson and Akena Alfred in the LC V chairperson races respectively. The results also saw the defeat of incumbent Opio Ojok Leonard (Aleo), Pader LCV chairman Col.Rtd. Fearless Obwoya and Opio Ateker of Gulu district. Abalo Lillian Ongom who came third in the race was celebrating the outcome of the results as free and fair underscoring voter dissatisfaction with long‑standing concerns over unemployment, deteriorating road infrastructure and perceived “unkindness” in local leadership.
LC5 (Agago District) – Chairperson Seat
Rank Candidate Votes Share
1 Otto Wilson 26,855 53.53 %
2 OPIO Ojok – Leonard Aleo 20,898 41.66 %
3 Abalo Lillian Gertrude 2,416 4.82 %
Invalid/Blank – 654 –
Total votes cast: 50,169
Voter turnout: Approximately 68 % of the registered electorate in Pader.
Otto Wilson’s victory, with a clear majority of more than half the votes, signals a shift away from the incumbent Ojok Aleo, whose campaign was hampered by growing frustrations over high unemployment rates and the poor condition of the district’s main thoroughfares. Wilson, a former youth leader pledged to “revive our roads, create jobs for our youth and restore dignity to public service.”
LC V (Pader District) – Chairperson Seat
Rank Candidate Votes
1 Akena Alfred 20,779
2 Ojok Dickson 6,977
3 Col. RTD Fearless Obwoya 4,895
4 Oringa Godfrey Largo 4,373
5 Onen Benard Okeny Akamba 866
Invalid/Blank – 552
Total votes cast: 38,422
Akena Alfread won, capturing more than half of the votes, eclipsed the combined totals of his nearest rivals. The result reflects a growing appetite among Agago and Pader voters for new leadership that can address the “terrible problems facing Pader and Agago district respectively ” In the previous council , many of whom were blamed for neglecting road repairs and failing to generate sustainable employment.
Both districts have seen a rise in youth unemployment, now at around 22 % in Pader and 24 % in Agago. Candidates who emphasized job‑creation and commonly known as “Wonkom Manyen- Otto Wilson has promised to revamp the agricultural sector and uplift the attitude of wealth creation as well as jobs creation in Agago district that affected the electorate for long.
Road Infrastructure – key priority in the manifesto of both Alfred Akena and Wilson Otto.The Persistent potholes and unpaved sections on the Pader‑Lira and Agago‑Pader roads have hampered trade and access to health services. Voters repeatedly cited “bad spot of the road between Rackoko, Corner Kilak and Pajule ” as a top grievance in post‑poll surveys, rewarding candidates promising concrete reconstruction timelines. Social media commentary and local civil‑society reports labeled some of the outgoing leaders as “unkind, rude ” and “unresponsive.” The phrase, repeatedly echoed in community meetings, appears to have eroded trust in incumbents, paving the way for newcomers.
Reactions from the Field
Otto Wilson (LC5, Agago): “Today’s result is a mandate for change.
Akena Alfred (LCV, Pader): “Our people have spoken loud and clear. The era of complacency is over. My administration will prioritize transparent budgeting for road works and prioritize employment of the youth, empower women, uplift standard of living , maintain district vehicles in good condition and l will move around the sub-counties to attend to the problems of people and make sure PDM reaches fund reach the most vulnerable families.”
However, the real test will be whether Wilson and Akena Alfred can translate electoral promises into tangible improvements on the ground. With unemployment, infrastructure decay and leadership accountability at the forefront of public concern.
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