At the burial of her father on Tuesday, 28-year-old Loyce Akiror said she was interested in replacing him as the district chairperson of Bukedea.
Moses Olemukan died last week at the age of 49 after battling cancer of the liver.
“As people of Bukedea, we should mourn with hope because l am here to offer myself to take on from where my father stopped,” Akiror told the large number of people who showed up to send off her father at his ancestral home in Akuoro village, Bukedea.
Akiror, the first child in her family, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public administration at Kampala International University.
Her declaration was met with vocal approval from the mourners.
Other district chairpersons of Teso region attended the burial and rubber-stamped their backing of Olemukan’s daughter.
“We are happy for you to accept to step in the shoes of your father. As his former colleagues, we shall support you so that you can carry on his legacy,” said Stephen Ochola, the chairperson of Teso district chairpersons.
A position of district chairperson or LC5 chairperson is an elective position. A by-election is held upon the death of a sitting occupant.
Bukedea county MP John Bosco Ikojo proposed that Akiror is allowed to sail through unopposed to complete her father’s term.
“There is no need for anybody again to come and contest with Akiror,” he said.
“When the MP for Usuk county Micheal Oromait died, his daughter Proscovia Alengot replaced him.When our dear Speaker [Jacob Oulanyah] died, the people of Omoro sent in his son t replace him. Why should Bukedea change narrative?”
Teso affairs state minister Kenneth Ongalo agreed. “It is Akiror who knows the works of her dad and so, those intending to contest should wait until 2026 when her father’s term ends,” he said.
Olemukan won the election as an independent candidate after losing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket to Wilberforce Tukei in the party primaries.
Tukei is serving as the resident district commissioner of Bukwo district.
Olemukan was the only son of his parents, Peter Ochom and Loyce Akiror, who are alive.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, the chief mourner at his interment, said he was “a hardworking chairman who treasured the welfare of women”.
Source: New Vision