The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party on Saturday, June 17, 2023, convened a special constituency delegates’ conference in Oyam district to determine its flag bearer in the Oyam North by-election, where Samuel Engola Junior was voted to be the flag bearer of the party.

According to a Local Authority affiliated with NRM party revealed on condition of anonymity that, out of 10 candidates, only eight interested candidates attended the enclosed meeting with the NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, to get the flag bearer.

A source added that, after more than 2 hours of an enclosed meeting, the party members failed to reach a consensus and decided to vote its flag bearer. All the other 6 interested candidates stepped down except for Queen Dorothy Amolo who refused to concede which led to a snap election, ultimately resulting into Samuel Engola Junior’s victory.

According to the declaration form of NRM Electoral Commission, Engola Jr. emerged the winner with 532 votes overriding Amolo who tallied up to 322 votes.

The Secretary-General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, was present to witness and also guide the party members through the exercise.

Other senior officials from the Secretariat that were in attendance include; the Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the Director for Mobilization, Hon. Rosemary Seninde, Hon. Jane Alisemera (EC Commissioner), Hajjat Medina Naham (Director for Finance and Administration), and Hon Emmanuel Dombo (Director for Information and Public Relations), among others.

“The nomination of candidates will be conducted on Monday, June 29 and Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at the Office of the District Returning officer, Oyam,” said EC Spokesperson, Paul Bukenya in a statement.

The stage is now set for a closely watched-election next month in Oyam North constituency.

The by-election follows the death of Rtd Col. Charles Okello Engola who was shot by his bodyguard at his home in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb.