By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
The Forum for Democratic Change has on Monday 30th January, 2023, unveiled Emmanuel Eratu as their candidate of choice in the forthcoming Serere county by election.
“Pursuant to Article 9(2)(a) and (h) of the FDC constitution, I have the pleasure to introduce Mr. Emmanuel Eratu a member of the FDC having undergone through alot of processes he emerged the FDC candidate to contest in the Serere county by election and will on February 9th be presented to the Electoral Commission for nomination,” said Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda, the FDC Electoral Commission Chairman.
The Serere county parliamentary seat fell vacant last year in December following the sudden death of Hon. Bishop Patrick Okabe who perished in a fatal accident alongside his wife.
The Electoral Commission declared the seat vacant and scheduled 8th and 9th February as date for the nomination of candidates and a polling date on February 23.
While unveiling the candidate, FDC President Patric Oboi Amuriat defined Eratu as an outstanding citizen of good characters with capabilities of transformative legislation in the National Assembly.
“We go in this campaign aware of the fact that the NRM junta is not going to relent they have signed up to use whatever means within their domain to ensure that every by election is taken over or won forcefully by the NRM,” Amuriat said citing out incidents of the 2022 Soroti City East and other by elections that were marred with violence, use of excessive military force and voter bribery.
A seasoned politician, Eratu is a former candidate for Serere county MP seat in the 2021 elections on the independent ticket.
Speaking to journalists shortly after being unveiled the FDC flag-bearer, Eratu expressed readiness to withstand the anxieties that come along elections in Uganda.
“I know there are so many challenges ahead but this is not the first time I contest. I know the field well, I am ready to serve the people of Serere and address their needs,” he said.
Eratu added, ” when time comes for an apple to ripen, it’s only God that can stop the process. Serere at the moment has so many challenges and there is no any other leader who can represent the people, take their challenges to parliament and have them addressed in the way that they wish.”
He appealed to the electorates in the area to vote for him because he is the strong candidate with a good vision for Serere county.
More than five candidates have expressed interests in the Serere county by election. They are Alice Alaso (ANT), Emmanuel Omoding among others
