Apac, Uganda | Police in Apac District arrested the incumbent mayor, Patrick Ongom Eyul, and an independent mayoral aspirant, Awany Andrew, over separate incidents of alleged incitement and illegal campaigning during the mayoral and councillor elections held on Tuesday.
According to police, the incidents occurred within Apac Municipality on January 27, prompting swift intervention by security agencies to prevent disruption of the electoral process.
Police said they received intelligence at about 7am that a group of voters had gathered at Judins Hotel in Apac Town, raising suspicion among members of the public that the individuals had been ferried in from neighbouring sub-counties to influence the election outcome.
Further allegations indicated that Ongom, who was contesting on the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) ticket, had mobilised people to confront the group and disrupt order at the hotel.
However, police investigations established that the individuals were duly registered voters in Apac Municipality.
Although some were currently residing outside the municipality, records from the Electoral Commission voter register update exercise showed they had lawfully transferred their voting location to Apac.
“The Returning Officer clarified that any voter whose name appears on the official register is legally entitled to vote at their registered polling station, regardless of their current place of residence,” police said in a statement.
Mr Ongom was arrested on allegations of inciting violence and transferred to Lira Regional Police Headquarters for further management.
The case was registered under Apac SD Ref: 24/27/01/2026.
Police said the arrest was a preventive measure aimed at averting possible clashes and ensuring voter safety.
In a separate incident, police said that at about 9:30am, Awany Andrew appeared on Devine FM radio and allegedly engaged in political campaigning while voting was ongoing, an act prohibited under electoral laws.
Awany was arrested and the matter recorded under Apac SD Ref: 25/27/01/2026.
He was briefly detained at Apac Central Police Station before being released on police bond pending further investigations.
Police also revealed that intelligence reports indicated that individuals allegedly aligned to Ongom had been deployed at several polling stations to block voters perceived to be non-residents, despite their names appearing on the voters’ register.
Officers intervened to ensure all eligible voters exercised their constitutional right without intimidation.
Following the police interventions, voting proceeded peacefully across Apac Municipality.
“The political and security situation in Apac Town remains calm. Police continue to monitor developments closely and urge all stakeholders to strictly observe electoral laws and maintain peace,” said North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema.
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