By Teso Vibez Reporter

SERERE DISTRICT - The political atmosphere in Serere District remains tense and charged as Esther Lucy Acom, popularly known as Ajokotau, mounts a fierce challenge against State Minister for Fisheries and incumbent Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Hellen Adoa, following what she describes as a fraudulent and irregular NRM primary election process. With strong support from the local population, many are calling the uprising ''apaada season 2'' (Catapult Season Two), a symbolic continuation of the residents’ campaign to remove Adoa from power.

Acom officially petitioned the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission, citing widespread electoral malpractice in the recently concluded primaries. The primaries were conducted via a controversial line up voting system, in which Minister Adoa was declared winner with 32,922 votes. Acom received 21,175 votes, while the third contender, Iyogil Florence, garnered just 67 votes. However, Acom and her supporters strongly dispute the results, claiming the process was marred by inflated tallies, voter intimidation, and deliberate obstruction of her polling agents.

Addressing journalists during a press conference at Hyde Park in Soroti City last week, Acom detailed the alleged irregularities. She pointed to instances where her agents were forcefully removed from polling stations, and results were allegedly altered to favor the incumbent. “The results declared do not reflect the will of the people,” Acom stated. “I have already filed a petition to the NRM Electoral Commission. I urge my supporters to remain calm and peaceful as we await the Commission’s decision.”

Richard Emanio, head of Acom’s campaign task force, condemned the voting exercise as a “massive robbery of votes.” He referenced specific polling areas such as Okidi Parish, where Acom reportedly led with 215 votes compared to Adoa’s 92. However, official results from the station were declared as 330 for Adoa and just 51 for Acom. Emanio accused returning officers of deliberately manipulating vote counts.

Despite the Electoral Commission having not yet issued a formal response to the petition, supporters of Acom have taken to the streets in celebration, signaling their rejection of the results. In a dramatic show of support, hundreds of locals recently blocked a section of the road as Acom made her way to a funeral, chanting slogans in her favor and calling for a new beginning in Serere's political leadership. 

Some residents who spoke to this website said that although they turned up in large number in their polling station, they were not able to vote thus denying them their right to vote, further fueling calls for accountability.

Many in Serere are urging Acom to consider running as an independent candidate should the NRM fail to deliver a fair and timely resolution. While Acom has not officially announced such a decision, she acknowledged the overwhelming pressure from the electorate and assured them that “all will be well.”

In the face of growing unrest, Minister Hellen Adoa has responded strongly. Addressing the media, Adoa revealed that she intends to submit a petition to President Yoweri Museveni, the Minister for Public Service, and the Attorney General, citing interference by senior public servants in the electoral process. She further accused her opponents of engaging in violence and blackmail, which she claims have damaged her reputation as a minister and public servant. Adoa also singled out former Woman MP Hon. Alice Alaso, accusing her of fueling efforts to discredit the outcome of the primaries.

As Serere braces for what many are calling “Catapult Season Two,” the district stands at a political crossroads. The outcome of the NRM Electoral Commission’s pending response is likely to determine the next chapter in what has become a high-stakes battle for representation, transparency, and the voice of the people in Serere.