Soroti, Uganda | Fisheries Minister and Serere District Woman MP, Hellen Adoa, has strongly defended her victory in the recently concluded NRM primaries, dismissing allegations of electoral malpractice and describing the post-election chaos as orchestrated misinformation aimed at misleading the public.
Speaking during a press briefing held on Sunday at Hotel May 7 in Soroti City, Adoa described the confusion that followed the announcement of results as a politically staged stunt.
She said her rivals had mobilized supporters with false promises and deliberately spread fake victory claims on social media to stir tension and confusion among voters.
According to Adoa, the celebration that erupted in several trading centres on Saturday night was not a reflection of reality but rather an “embarrassment” to those who had been misled.
She claimed that groups were mobilized with the promise of receiving UGX 300,000 each to stage premature and misleading celebrations that painted a false image of victory for her closest rival, Esther Lucy Acom.
Adoa argued that these actions were aimed at inciting public excitement and political pressure but had no basis in the actual electoral process.
She urged her supporters to remain focused and ignore what she described as “noise” from social media.
Adoa said her work as a leader continues beyond politics and that she is currently preparing to roll out health camps and distribute essential equipment to various villages in Serere District.
She emphasized that she is a results-oriented leader who has consistently served the people of Serere since her first election in 2011.
In her remarks, Adoa issued a stern warning to individuals attempting to cause unrest or intimidate voters, stating that any such acts would lead to arrests and legal consequences.
She cautioned the youth not to allow themselves to be used by political actors she described as desperate and defeated.
Adoa attributed her victory not just to numbers but to what she called “social capital” built over the years through grassroots work, healthcare interventions, and community support programs.
She said this strong connection with the people of Serere could not be undone by what she termed “a night of lies.”
In a notable appeal, Adoa reached out to her younger challengers, urging them not to be misled by veteran politicians who, in her words, have “eaten enough.”
She encouraged them to support her leadership for now, promising to stand with them in the future.
She concluded by firmly stating that there would be no re-run of the primaries, insisting that the election results were clear and legitimate.
She also suggested that those who caused chaos at polling stations should be held accountable under the law.
Meanwhile, Esther Lucy Acom has formally rejected the results and filed a petition with the NRM electoral tribunal.
She maintains that the election was marred by irregularities, including alleged denial of access to polling agents and suspicious changes in vote tallies in some sub-counties.