By Eye Media Reporter – Apac
Apac – Tensions have boiled over in Apac District after the UPC Party grassroots elections were indefinitely suspended due to violent clashes between rival factions.
The elections, which were initially slated for June 12, 2025, turned chaotic after party members in Apac Municipality accused organizers of omitting names from the voter register. The exercise was rescheduled to June 24, but once again descended into violence, with factions accusing each other of bias and register manipulation.
The conflict centers around a heated political standoff between supporters of Apac Municipality MP Patrick Ocan and Maruzi County MP Maxwell Akora, who has controversially shifted base to Apac Municipality in a bid to unseat Ocan.
“A fight broke out before voting even began,” one eyewitness told Eye Media, “supporters were throwing accusations and voting materials were destroyed.”
Police from Apac CPS intervened to quell the situation, and a crisis meeting was held, resolving to conduct the elections on June 25. But even that plan fell apart.
The party’s Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Ben Bakabulindi, told the media that elections would proceed using both the official register and party cards. That proposal, however, was rejected by a section of party members who insisted that only those on the official register should vote.
“The register must be verified, and if names are missing, let them be added. Otherwise, suspend the whole register,” said Hon. Patrick Ocan, who accused some party leaders of bias and vote rigging.
With tempers flaring, Apac RDC Andrew Onyuk was forced to step in and halt the election for security reasons.
“The team from Kampala appeared biased. Emotions were high, and as security, we couldn’t allow this chaos to continue,” RDC Onyuk told reporters.
Sam Opira, the LC5 Councilor for Chegere Subcounty and a senior UPC member, called for calm and impartiality.
“We need to agree on fair principles. No one should come to resolve conflict with dirty hands,” Opira stated.
With no fresh date set, the UPC grassroots elections in Apac hang in the balance—highlighting deep divisions and rising stakes in the party’s local power dynamics.
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