Peter Abrahams Irar Wins Re-election as Kotido Municipality Mayor

President M7 handing over the NRM flag to Kotido Mayor Irar Peter Abrahams (photo credit Richard Onapatum)

By Richard Onapatum

Kotido District, Uganda — The Kotido District Elections Officer, Julius Ogwang Ongom, has officially declared incumbent mayor Peter Abrahams Irar, popularly known as Lokorilinga, as the winner of Tuesday’s municipal elections, securing a second term in office. Irar, representing the National Resistance Movement (NRM), defeated two independent challengers, Muria Tadeo Lodioki and Alex Paulsen Locham, by a significant margin.

According to the official results, Irar garnered 6,680 votes, while Lodioki came second with 4,075 votes. Locham, who currently serves as LC 3 Chairman of Central Division, received only 297 votes. A total of 11,491 ballots were cast, of which 11,052 were valid. There were 439 rejected and 28 spoilt ballots, reflecting a high voter turnout and active civic engagement during the polls.

Following his declaration, Mayor Irar thanked the people of Kotido Municipality for their trust and support. “This victory is not for me or any political faction,” he said. “It belongs to the people of Kotido, and I am committed to uniting our community and delivering on my campaign promises.” Among his priorities are improving road infrastructure, providing clean water, and upgrading market facilities to support local businesses.

While Lodioki could not be reached for comment, Locham acknowledged the results, noting that he had encouraged his supporters to vote for Lodioki. “I respect the will of the people,” Locham said.

Close supporters of Irar expressed optimism about the mayor’s new term. Namoe Lilly from central division, a community leader and longtime ally, described the victory as “a reflection of the trust residents have in Peter’s leadership and his proven commitment to development. We are confident that he will continue transforming Kotido Municipality for the better.”

Observers say Irar’s victory underscores strong voter confidence in his leadership and sets the stage for renewed focus on ongoing development initiatives. Residents hope that the mayor’s second term will accelerate service delivery and address critical needs, reinforcing Kotido’s growth trajectory in the coming years.