102 Years Later, the Proverb of Former Soviet Union Prime Minister Joseph Stalin Bites Maracha District LC5 Hon Obitre Stephen as He Rejects Tallied Votes.

Hon Obitre Stephen (Second Left) cheers together with his nominator and seconders as NRM EC Fred Jachan Omach nominated him to vie for the NRM Primary election for Maracha District LC5 Chairperson position. Photo by Osuta Yusuf, Our News Reporter.

Story by Osuta Yusuf.

Maracha District.

13-August-2025.

Click here on the link to watch the declaration of the results we Livebroadcasted from Maracha District NRM Tallying Centre.

Following the Thursday 24-7-2025 NRM Party Primary Elections for Local Government positions in Uganda, the outcome of the election in Maracha District has left the incumbent LC5 Chairperson Hon Obitre Stephen crying foul on grounds of what, The revolutionary and former Prime Minister of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin said in a quote in 1923, that, “The people who cast the votes decide nothing but the people who count the votes decide everything”.

📸: Here are some facts noted down with a pen during tallying of the votes Sub-county by Sub-county at the District NRM Tallying Centre Maracha. Courtesy Photo.

By June-2025, the NRM Party Secretariat Kampala had duly nominated 4 candidates, Hon Adripiyo Emmanuel (the first LC5 Chairperson of Maracha from 2010 - 2016), Hon Adiga Lawrence Wilfred Ozubia (also former LC5 from 2016 - 2021), Hon Obitre Stephen (incumbent LC5 2021 - 2026) and Rt Hon Wanni Emmanuel (District Speaker 2016 - 2026) to run in the NRM Party primary elections for LC5 Chairperson position in Maracha District.

📸: Rt Hon Wani Emmanuel (second right with yellowish square shirt) taking a photo with his nominator and seconders after he was duly nominated on 25-6-2025 to contest in the NRM Party primary election for Maracha District LC5 Chairperson position. Photo by Our News Reporter Osuta Yusuf. 

District speaker Rt Hon Wani Emmanuel emerged the winner after he polled 20,298 votes from the 24-7-2025 NRM primary election, followed by Hon Adripiyo Emmanuel who polled 11,192 votes, the incumbent LC5 Hon Obitre Stephen came in the third position after he polled 10,221 votes, and Hon Adiga Lawrence Wilfred Ozubia got 4,623 votes.

The incumbent LC5 Chairperson Hon Obitre Stephen who got frustrated by the outcome of the Thursday 24-7-2025 NRM Party Primary Election results after he was defeated by his own district speaker, decided to file a petition before the NRM Tribunal, under petition number “PT-123-2025” seeking to nullify the victory of Rt Hon Wani Emmanuel.

In what seems to be rhyming with Joseph Stalin's 1923 quote on voting and vote counting, Hon Obitre became vindicated by stating in the petition that, His agents and some NRM party election officials violated electoral guidelines and laws by falsifying and inflating election figure results at various polling stations within Maracha District including Tara sub county, Ajira sub county, Olufe sub county.

“The agents of the first respondent [Hon Wani Emmanuel] intimidated, harassed and beat up some of the agents of the petitioner [Hon Obitre Stephen] which prompted the agents to abandon and flee for their lives as a result leaving the first respondent an open opportunity to falsify and inflate the election results”, reads part of the petition filed by Hon Obitre Stephen who came in the third position after scoring 10,221 votes.

The first respondent [Rt Hon Wani Emmanuel] is expected to file his defense as the NRM Tribunal will hear the petition and thereafter fix a time frame to deliver the ruling.

Notably, the NRM Flag Bearer will face with other opposition candidates like Adriko Fred (NUP Party), Ayikobua Philliam (DP Party) and few others who may show their interests along the way to contest as Independent candidates in the upcoming 2026 general election for Maracha District LC5 Chairperson seat 2026 - 2031.

Stay tuned.