NRM candidate James Leku Pilli has taken over the Adjumani West parliamentary seat after securing an overwhelming victory in Thursday’s by-election, beating his independent rival Gasper Draga by 9,864 votes.
Leku polled 12,423 votes against Draga’s 2,559 in an election that attracted more than 15,000 voters, according to results announced by the Electoral Commission at Adjumani District Council Hall.
Adjumani Electoral District Returning Officer Akao Eunice Christine declared Leku elected at 8:31pm after tallying results from all 114 polling stations.
In the official Return Form for Transmission of Results, the returning officer declared Leku the candidate who obtained the largest number of votes.
The result fills the parliamentary vacancy created by the death of former Adjumani West MP Gen (Rtd) Moses Ali, who died on July 18, 2026.
Leku’s 12,423 votes represented the vast majority of the 14,982 valid votes cast. The Electoral Commission recorded 234 rejected ballot papers and 19 spoilt ballot papers.
The constituency had 51,437 registered voters, meaning turnout remained relatively low despite the high margin recorded by the eventual winner.
The contest had initially attracted four candidates, but the race narrowed to two after independent candidates Ben Anyama and Patrick Tandrupasi withdrew from the election.
Anyama withdrew after an appeal from President Yoweri Museveni, despite previously claiming that he had been unfairly treated during the NRM primary elections.
“My victory was rigged during the NRM primary elections. That is why I stood as an independent candidate,” Anyama said before withdrawing.
He later said he had accepted the appeal in the interest of peace and unity.
Tandrupasi also pulled out of the race and later endorsed Leku, saying his decision was based on “unity, peace and cohesion in Adjumani West.”
The withdrawals left Leku and Draga as the only candidates on the final ballot.
During his campaign, Leku placed infrastructure and urban development at the centre of his agenda, promising to push for the construction of Laropi Bridge, elevation of Adjumani Town Council to municipality status and upgrading of Ciforo Health Centre III to a Health Centre IV.
After casting his ballot earlier in the day, Leku urged residents who had not voted to turn up at their polling stations.
“I kindly invite you to come and vote now so that we can finish quickly,” he said.
Draga, meanwhile, focused his campaign on youth empowerment, education, skills development and commercial agriculture.
“My priority is to invest in our young people through education and skills development, while promoting commercial agriculture to improve household incomes and create employment,” Draga said.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission said polling was generally peaceful, with election materials arriving on time at most polling stations and biometric voter verification kits generally functioning.
However, UHRC observer Crispin Kaheru noted low voter turnout at most polling stations by the close of voting at 4pm.
The Electoral Commission had established 114 polling stations across Adjumani West, covering Adjumani Town Council and the sub-counties of Pachara, Adropi, Ciforo and Ukusijoni, comprising 23 parishes and 99 villages.
Leku’s victory now puts him in the seat previously occupied by Gen Moses Ali, one of the longest-serving figures in Uganda’s political history.
