Lira High Court sets Nov 5 for judgment in Oyam South petition involving Queen Dorothy Amolo Vs Omona Joseph and Ogwang Obura.
By Okidi Patrick Ocamoyitdyel
LIRA — The High Court in Lira city will on November 5, 2026 deliver judgment in the election petition filed by Queen Dorothy Amolo challenging the election of Oyam South MP Patrick Ogwang Obura.
The date was set on Friday, September 18, 2026 by Lady Justice Fatuma Nanziri Bwanika, Resident Judge of Masaka High Court, who is handling the petitions at Lira High court, after conclusion of hearing.
Amolo, who contested as an independent candidate in the January 15, 2026 parliamentary elections, is seeking nullification of Obura’s election on grounds of discrepancies in her name and a blurred photograph on the ballot paper.
During Friday’s proceedings, Amolo appeared without legal representation and was cross-examined on her candidature.
She told court she was previously known as Queen Dorothy Alweny before changing her name to Queen Dorothy Amolo in September 2020.
Amolo also told court she did not vote in the January 15 election because her adopted name — Amolo — did not appear on the ballot. The ballot instead bore the name Queen Dorothy Alweny.
The second respondent, Oyam District Returning Officer Joseph Omona, defended the poll as transparent, free and fair. He said he was not the one who conducted the nomination exercise because by then he was in Apac district.
Omona told court he could not recall Amolo lodging any complaint over the name discrepancy and that no candidate raised a complaint during tallying. He argued that despite the ballot bearing the name Alweny, the party symbol and photograph were clear enough for voters to identify her.
The returning officer again further clarified that he was not in Oyam South during nominations, as he was then serving as Returning Officer for Apac District.
Pressed in court by cross examination from Amolo, on whether Amolo was a stakeholder in the Oyam South election and whether she had complained to him about her name, Omona responded: “I don’t remember.”
Speaking to journalists from the court premises after attending court, Omona declined to discuss the merits of the case, saying the matter is still befoee court hebce he cannot comment about it, and urged all parties to await the November 5 judgment.
MP Ogwang Obura, who is also chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group (LPG), said he is confident the court will uphold his victory and called on the people of Oyam South to put aside differences and focus on development.
According to official results declared by Joseph Omona, Patrick Ogwang Obura of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) won with 29,353 votes out of 49,137 valid votes cast.
Geoffrey Owili of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) came second with 9,529 votes, followed by Amolo with 3,516 votes. Independent Anthony Obuku Ekwaro polled 3,222, Otto Ishaa Amiza of the NUP got 2,083, Patrick Obong had 777, Benard Awuku 455, and Democratic Front’s Odong Godfrey 202.
Amolo said she is confident of winning the case come November 5th, 2026.
Amolo’s petition is among 346 parliamentary election petitions arising from the January 15 general elections being handled by High Courts across the country.
Other similar petition in Acholi sub-region is that of former Aruu county MP Dr. Odonga Samuel Otto Vs MP Komakech Christopher of Aruu county who won with 26 votes.
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