The top leadership of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party is pushing for Dr. Rosemary Alwoch, the daughter of the late former Dokolo District Woman MP, Ceclia Ogwal, to be elected unopposed, replacing her mother in Parliament.

Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat, the FDC Party President, said that the people of Dokolo should reward the late Cecilia Ogwal by electing Dr. Alwoc unopposed.

He said this during a political talk show on a local Radio station in Lira City on Friday, February 9, 2024. Recently, both the ruling National Resistance Movement Party (NRM) and the opposition FDC Party expressed interest in fronting Dr. Alwoc to contest the forthcoming by-election to fill the position of Dokolo Woman MP.

According to Amuriat, the FDC team has already deployed enough political mobilizers on the ground in Dokolo to campaign and gather support for Dr. Alwoc.

Regarding violence and the extreme use of money during the by-election, Amuriat said that, as the FDC, they will use their forces on the ground to counter any event aiming to frustrate victory in Dokolo.

“We know our victory during the Soroti City East and Bukedea by-elections was robbed, but this time, we are ready to counter any politics of violence and use of money. We have enough manpower. I advise NRM not to dare activate the politics of violence in Dokolo,” said Amuriat.

Amuriat insists that the FDC party has so far deployed a strong force and network in Dokolo to conduct grassroots mobilization as they wait for the roadmap to be released by the Electoral Commission.

“It would be a political blunder for Dr. Alwoc to betray the wishes of her mother by joining another party. I’m pleading with other parties to give us a free ride if they held Imat Ogwal deeply in their hearts by allowing Dr. Alwoc to go unopposed to replace her mother,” said Amuriat.

MP Moses Okot Bitek, of Kyoga North in Amolatar district, and the FDC’s Secretary for Legal Affairs said that in the event that Dr. Alwoc is wooed to contest on the NRM ticket, they have about five women who have expressed interest in contesting on the FDC ticket.

“The people of Dokolo district should not settle for less. To retain the seat in Dokolo, we want a person of character just like the late Imat Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal to beat the NRM money,” said MP Okot.

MP Jimmy Akena Obote, also the opposition UPC party president, confirmed on February 8, 2024, that they would front a candidate in the Dokolo by-election. Without revealing the particulars of their candidate, MP Akena remained optimistic about achieving victory in Dokolo.

A total of 14 women, including Christine Odwe, Dr. Rosemary Alwoc, and Beatrice Abang (current NRM chairperson in Dokolo), among others, have expressed interest in replacing the late MP Ogwal’s seat in the 11th Parliament.