Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip and long-serving Member of Parliament for Ajuri County, has lost his parliamentary seat following a partial re-run ordered by the Electoral Commission (EC), marking a major political setback for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Obua was defeated by Fred Jalameso of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), who emerged victorious after the EC concluded voting in 18 polling stations where results from the January 15, 2026, general election had been nullified due to irregularities. Final results declared on Tuesday evening showed Jalameso polling 16,336 votes against Obua’s 15,568.
The results were announced at 7:53 p.m. at Alebtong District Council Hall by the District Returning Officer, Olobo Michael. The election registered 36,882 valid votes, with 1,164 rejected ballots. A total of 38,046 ballots were counted, including 99 spoilt ballots.
Obua’s defeat followed a tightly contested race that had initially appeared to tilt in his favour. Preliminary tallies from 160 of the 178 polling stations had placed Jalameso ahead with 14,321 votes compared to Obua’s 12,963, prompting Jalameso to petition the Electoral Commission over alleged discrepancies in Awei Subcounty.
After investigations and a recount, the EC confirmed inconsistencies and, on January 18, 2026, cancelled results from 18 polling stations, ordering a fresh poll in those areas. Voting was conducted on January 27, and the outcome of the re-run ultimately reversed Obua’s hopes of retaining the seat.
Obua, who entered the general election unopposed in the NRM primaries and serves as the ruling party’s chief mobiliser in Parliament, now becomes one of the highest-ranking government officials to lose a parliamentary seat in the 2026 elections.
The loss not only ends Obua’s tenure as Ajuri County legislator but also delivers a symbolic blow to the NRM in Alebtong District, while handing the Uganda People’s Congress a rare parliamentary victory in the sub-region.
