The National Unity Platform (NUP) has announced that they will not front any candidate for the upcoming by-election for Soroti East Constituency in Soroti City but rather support FDC’s sole candidate, Attan Moses.
On May 24, the Court of Appeal judges, Cheborion Barishaki, Stephen Musota, and Christopher Gashirabake, upheld the High Court judgment nullifying the election of Moses Attan and ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections.
In August last year, the High Court in Soroti nullified the election of Attan on grounds that his election was conducted in non-existent wards of Aloet and Opiyai.
During the January 2021 polls, Attan won the election after obtaining 7,606 votes, Ariko gathered 7,164 votes, Jimmy Ekemu (NRM) got 397 votes, Sarah Inadiu (IND) got 185, James Herbert Elaju (UPC) 99 votes, and Arnold Emachu (NUP) 86 votes.
With nomination and voting day edging closer, NUP has endorsed Attan.
“We shall be supporting Hon. Attan Moses, the FDC flag bearer in the forthcoming Soroti East Constituency by-election, and we will rally the people of Soroti to vote him back to Parliament.
Although we had very good potential candidates in Soroti, we are doing this in the broader interest of the unity of the Forces of Change. We believe that Hon. Attan legitimately won the previous election which was interrupted by a court decision. We are stronger when we come together,” NUP said in a statement.
According to the roadmap released by the EC, the nomination of candidates will be conducted for a period of two days, that is, Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19 at the Office of the City Returning Officer, Soroti City.
The campaign meetings for candidates will be held from July 21 to July 26. Then, the people of Soroti East Constituency will go to the polls on Thursday, July 28.