END OF THE ROAD: LONGTIME LEADERS OUSTED IN DOKOLO AND ALEBTONG LC5 ELECTIONS
By Okidi Patrick
ALEBTONG, UGANDA -January 23, 2026: A political earthquake shook the Lango sub-region on Friday as veteran leaders were properly defeated in the just-concluded Local Council V (LC5) elections in Dokolo, Apac, Kole, Oyam and Alebtong districts, marking a dramatic shift in local leadership.
In Dokolo District, incumbent LC5 Chairperson James Otto Apili suffered a resounding defeat, losing his seat to political newcomer Ogwang Peter. According to official results announced at the District Tally Centre, Ogwang Peter of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) surged to victory with a commanding 29,113 votes—more than double Apili’s 13,581 votes.
An atmosphere of celebration filled the air as Ogwang’s supporters erupted in song and dance outside the tallying center, waving flags and cheering for their new leader. The landslide victory signaled a clear call for change among the electorate, many of whom cited poor service delivery and lack of development in key sectors as reasons for Apili’s downfall.
“This is a new dawn for Dokolo,” Ogwang Peter declared in his victory speech. “The people have spoken, and I hear them. I promise to serve with integrity, transparency, and above all, put the needs of the people first.”
Meanwhile, in neighboring Alebtong District, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Ongom Ambrose emerged triumphant in a tightly contested race, scooping 24,208 votes to reclaim the LC5 chairmanship. He defeated Odongo David Kennedy of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), who managed 9,614 votes, while independent candidate Acen Bena came third with 7,079 votes.
Other candidates, including Ocen Geoffrey (Independent) with 2,036 votes and Ogwang Ambrose (Independent) with 999 votes, trailed far behind. The results in Alebtong underscored growing voter dissatisfaction with traditional political line-ups, as independents and lesser-known candidates gained notable traction.
In another upset, long-serving LC5 leader Odongo Asanti lost his bid for re-election to Ages, who secured a decisive win. Analysts say the defeat of leaders who don’t pick voters phone calls must be a lesson to—Dk Odongo, Otto Apili, Dila Benson, and Odongo Asanti—who suffered reasonable defeat.
Only a handful of incumbents managed to retain their positions. Mayor Sam Atul retained his seat in Lira City, while RCM Okello Orik and Abola Francis, the LCV chairpersons of Lira and Otuke respectively, managed to win re-election.Engener Moses Oteng won Kole LCV seat and Adea Nelson defeated Benson Dila Oyuku with an historic margin.
Political observers attribute the sweeping changes to rising public demand for accountability, youth engagement in politics, and widespread disillusionment with unfulfilled campaign promises.
“This election was not just about individuals—it was a referendum on performance,” said Dr. Charles Ojara, a political analyst at Gulu University. “The people have made it clear: leadership must deliver, or they will be replaced.”
As the dust settles, focus now shifts to the incoming officials, who face the daunting task of addressing infrastructure deficits, improving healthcare and education, and fostering economic growth in their respective districts.
For ousted leaders like James Otto Apili, Dila Benson Oyuku, Odongo Ashanti and David Kennedy Odongo, the defeat marks the end of an era—and a sobering reminder that in democratic governance, no position is permanent.
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