The Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament Joan Alobo Acom has decided to use sports as a tool to bridge peace and unity following the July 28, 2022 Soroti City East by-elections that were allegedly marred by several irregularities.
On Saturday, Alobo handed over Jerseys and Balls to all the 25 wards within the city.
According to Alobo, Soroti City is so divided and polarised coming from the way the city boundaries were created.
Alobo believes that sports is one of the avenues for the communities to unite.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the Soroti East Division MP by-election filed a petition at Soroti High Court challenging the outcome of the July 28 elections.
Moses Attan Okia, through his lawyer Jude Byamukama of JB & co advocates, in an August 26 election petition indicated that there were glaring malpractices, militarisation of the by-election, and detention of his party agents.
Court in Soroti has set January 20, 2023 has a day it will judge on the matter.
Herbert Edmund Ariko of National Resistance Movement party was declared MP elect Soroti East Division having garnered 9,407 votes against Mr Attan’s 8,771. Mr Pascal Amuriat of Uganda Peoples Congress came a distant third with 115 votes.
Mr Attan, who was elected MP for Soroti East Division in 2021, was thrown out of Parliament by the Court of Appeal in May on grounds that his election was conducted within unspecified boundaries.
“I wish to use such a events to plead with the business community in Soroti City to support any of our City tournaments and clubs by becoming patrons and donating whenever possible. This is what all other regions are doing,” Alobo appealed
She added that, “As a lover of Sports, I also wish to promote Girls Sports for Character Development, Talents emphasizing on potential, Skills and ability to perform among all Genders.”
Francis Okongel the Deputy Head Teacher II Olila High School in charge of Co-curricular activities hailed the MP Alobo for using such approach in bridging peace and unity.
He also asked parents to always encourage their girls to participate in football noting that football is a paying game.