The political temperature in Kasilo County, Serere District, has risen sharply following the declaration of Paul Peter Emaju as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer.
Emaju was declared the winner by District Registrar William Olir after securing 9,420 votes (65.5%) against Moses Edonu who garnered 4,951 votes (34.5%).
However, Edonu challenged the defeat by filing a petition with the NRM’s Election Tribunal chaired by city lawyer John Musiime alleging that he suffered electoral malpractice which involved arresting and charging the District Registrar in the Courts of law.
This website has established that Lt Gen General Samuel Okiding, the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) is the main force backing Edonu.
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Sources claim that the serving UPDF boss has supported Edonu since 2021 when he failed to secure a win and was defeated by Elijah Okupa.
However, in 2025, Emaju, a seasoned banker dramatically shifted his political dynamics to Kasilo and for the first time, the county’s two dominant blocs, Bugondo and Kadungulu, fielded strong contenders.
Emaju, hailing from Kadungulu Sub-County, brought new energy to a race historically tilted in Bugondo’s favor which shocked General Okiding and he vowed to save his henchman.
He invested heavily in local infrastructure, such as the construction of churches as a strategy to build support for Edon.
Multiple sources claim that General Okiding is influencing ongoing investigations and orchestrating a series of arrests aimed at intimidating Emaju’s supporters and coercing confessions to fabricate grounds for nullifying the election results.
Among those arrested include Olir William and the Kadungulu Sub-County chairperson who are both accused of electoral fraud which has caused panic among the community.
Eluru the arrested chairperson is a former army officer and was reportedly transferred from Serere Police to a military facility in Moroto over allegations of illegally possessing a firearm which shocked his supporters and many ran into hiding in fear of being arrested.
His home was searched under circumstances described as dubious, with the involvement of a 3rd Division Intelligence Officers further raising red flags and sources claim that Eluru is being held to extract a confession implicating Emaju in the said offences.
Sources divulged that security was at first scared of the violence which was expected in Serere District because of the close competition for the Woman Member of Parliament but they suddenly had to shift focus to Kasilo County.
Among those reportedly being targeted for military arrests are the Sub-County Registrars of Kadungulu Town Council Edwonu, Kadungulu Sub-County Agwaru and other civilians
Locals fear that the military is being used to pressurise these individuals into signing statements that discredit the elections and bolster the petition against Emaju.
The overt military presence before, during, and after the primaries has instilled fear throughout Kasilo County and locals are accusing Gen Okiding of being behind the move claiming that he is preparing the political ground for him once he retires from the army.
Residents are pleading with Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and president Museveni to help them intervene and save the situation.
Residents are demanding an independent and impartial investigation into recent events and are urging that Gen Okiding be barred from further political interference in the region.
