Long-serving Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Peter Teko Lokeris, has contested the outcome of the NRM primaries in Chekwii East Constituency, citing extensive electoral malpractice. Lokeris, who placed third with 2,360 votes behind winner Stephenson Lokoru Yoyo (2,930 votes) and Joshua Losuru (2,434 votes), pointed to several irregularities that, in his view, rendered the process fundamentally flawed.
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Among his chief concerns was the discovery that the official declaration form bore a stamp dated July 1, 2025—more than two weeks before voting occurred—suggesting premeditated results. Lokeris further alleged a conflict of interest, noting that the returning officer, Augustine Lomilo, who announced the results, is a blood relative of the winning candidate.
Supporters of Lokeris echoed his grievances. Several reported incidents of voter manipulation, intimidation, and biased conduct by polling assistants—many of whom were allegedly related to Lokoru Yoyo. In rural areas, Lokeris’s polling agents were reportedly chased away, and security was notably absent. Some residents described vote-tampering methods, including misdirecting voter lines using candidate posters and duplicate signatures on tally forms across different polling stations.
Despite these allegations, District NRM Registrar Augustine Lomilo dismissed the claims, defending the election’s integrity and attributing the results to local sub-county loyalties. He denied any familial ties to Lokoru and insisted the vote was peaceful and fair.
With tensions rising in Chekwii East, the NRM Electoral Commission in Kampala now faces mounting pressure to address the situation. Minister Lokeris has vowed not to concede unless an independent investigation is conducted.
This dispute highlights broader concerns about transparency and fairness in party primaries across the Karamoja sub-region. Multiple NRM contests have ended in controversy, pointing to a growing crisis of trust in internal party electoral processes, where legitimacy is increasingly challenged—not just by numbers, but by the integrity of the process itself.
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