The Soroti High Court has officially closed the election petition challenging the victory of Joan Alobo Acom, the Woman Member of Parliament for Soroti City, after the case was withdrawn by the petitioner, Sarah Inachu.
Inachu, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, withdrew the petition by mutual agreement, with both parties opting to bear their own legal costs in the interest of promoting unity and reconciliation.
The petition, filed on March 10, 2026, challenged the outcome of the parliamentary election in which Alobo, representing the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), was declared the winner with 19,040 votes, defeating Inachu, who garnered 10,085 votes. The race also featured independent candidates Juliet Agonyo, Emilly Sheila Amulo, and Priscilla Apolot.
During a court session presided over by Justice Boniface Wamala on Monday, July 13, 2026, Inachu formally withdrew the petition, leaving Alobo as the duly elected Woman MP for Soroti City.
In her submission, Inachu said the decision was made in the spirit of togetherness, unity, peace, and reconciliation for the people of Soroti City.
She added that the move followed consultations and guidance from several religious, political, and opinion leaders, including Capt. George Michael Mukula, Bishop Kosea Odongo, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach, and the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Eastern Region, Calvin Eciru, among others.
Inachu’s lawyer, Richard Okalang, told the court that the decision was also influenced by the significant time and financial resources required to gather sufficient evidence to sustain the election challenge.
Alobo welcomed the withdrawal of the petition and the agreement for each party to meet its own legal costs. She thanked the court, Justice Boniface Wamala, and her legal team for standing by her throughout the proceedings.
The withdrawal brings an end to the legal dispute, affirming Alobo’s election as the Soroti City Woman Member of Parliament.
