Expose: The Battle for Democracy in Bukedea – Hellen Odeke Akol’s Fight Against Political Manipulation

BY AGENCY 

Hellen Odeke Akol, a determined political figure in Bukedea District, has once again found herself embroiled in a fierce legal and political battle as she seeks to participate in the 2026 elections.

Akol is vying for the position of Woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea District, contesting against the incumbent Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among. For the second time in five years, Akol believes she is facing a coordinated effort to block her candidacy through fraudulent means, legal manipulation, and an orchestrated abuse of power.

The Beginning of the Latest Struggle

The saga began during the National Electoral Commission’s voter registration update exercise. To Akol’s shock, she discovered at the Bukedea District Electoral Commission Office that her name had mysteriously been removed from the official voter register.

 This was no clerical error When she contacted the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, she was told her details were intact. 

The discrepancy raised deep concerns, prompting her to check the NRM party register, where she discovered that her details were also missing — a significant blow for someone intending to participate in the NRM primaries.

In response, Akol, known for her advocacy for transparency and fairness, wrote a petition to the Party Chairperson, H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, urging him to intervene. She also submitted a complaint to the Party Secretary-General, the custodian of the membership register. An internal investigation confirmed her worst fears: her name had been illegally removed from the party register. This was no innocent mistake but appeared to be a deliberate attempt to bar her from contesting.

The Secretary-General acted swiftly, instructing corrections to the record and issuing Akol a certified copy of her registration believing the matter resolved, Akol paid the required fees for nomination and expected her candidacy to proceed unimpeded. However, in an unexpected twist, the Party Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, refused to issue her the nomination forms. In a tone Akol described as dismissive and impudent.

Continued Frustration and a Forensic Revelation

Shocked and frustrated, Akol once again reached out to the Party Secretary-General, who reportedly assured her that the matter would be addressed. On June 10th, the Secretary-General updated her on the findings of a forensic investigation. The report revealed that someone had scribbled over her name in ink in the original party register to obscure it. Fortunately, forensic experts confirmed that her name was still legible beneath the ink. Armed with this evidence, the Secretary-General wrote to Dr. Tanga instructing him to provide Akol with her nomination forms.

Akol believed the worst was behind her, but her troubles persisted. Despite the Secretary-General’s directive, she was not issued the forms, and her path to nomination remained obstructed.

Legal Tactics: A Familiar Script

Soon after attempting to proceed with her campaign preparations, Akol was reportedly served with court summons on Friday, June 13th. The hearing was set for Monday, June 16th, giving her almost no time to prepare or brief her lawyers. The application was filed by Akol Zipola, a supposed NRM member and sister to Akol’s opponent, Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among.

Zipola’s claims included allegations that Akol fraudulently registered in Ocekereni village—a place where she neither resides nor originates—and that Akol was not a legitimate NRM member but instead affiliated with the opposition FDC. These allegations are widely considered to be politically motivated.

The situation mirrors what happened during the 2020 elections, when Akol was blocked from contesting due to a similar legal stunt involving a name change dispute. Although the courts eventually ruled in her favor.