The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has officially declared Philip Oucor as the flag bearer for Pingire County, bringing an end to a tense and closely watched contest that has dominated political discussions in Serere District over the past week.
The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon by NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who released the long-awaited official results after days of vote verification and dispute resolution.
According to the final tally: Philip Oucor got 7,503 votes, Ojiit Peter 6,509 votes, Opolot Fred (incumbent MP) 1,976 votes, Abuka Charles 1,173 votes, Olupot Ambrose 238 votes and Omedo John 98 votes.
With a clear margin of 994 votes ahead of his closest challenger, Peter Ojiit, Oucor was declared the winner, earning the NRM flag for the 2026 parliamentary race in Pingire County.
In his acceptance speech delivered shortly after the declaration, Oucor thanked the people of Pingire County for placing their confidence in him and pledged to carry the party’s vision into the 2026 general election.
“This victory belongs to the people of Pingire who braved the heat, the dust, and long queues to cast their votes. I am humbled by the trust they have shown me, and I will not take it for granted,” said Oucor.
“Our campaign has been about unity, development, and restoring dignity to leadership. Now that the primaries are done, it’s time to rally together and push forward as one NRM family.”
Oucor emphasized his commitment to agricultural transformation, improved service delivery, youth empowerment, and transparent leadership.
He also extended an olive branch to his fellow contestants, urging them to join him in building a stronger constituency.
The Pingire County race had drawn significant attention both locally and nationally due to the high number of candidates and the intensity of competition.
The political atmosphere was particularly charged following the initial suspension of vote counting last week over allegations of irregularities in some parishes, notably Akumoi One and Akumoi Two.
Peter Ojiit, who came second with 6,509 votes, had earlier contested the preliminary results, accusing some polling agents of altering Declaration of Results forms.
However, the final figures announced by Dr. Tanga Odoi appeared to reaffirm the initial trends showing Oucor in the lead.
Ojiit has not yet publicly commented on the final results, but sources close to his camp indicate that a formal petition may still be filed.
The biggest surprise in the race was the poor showing of Fred Opolot, the incumbent MP, who garnered only 1,976 votes, placing third behind Oucor and Ojiit.
Opolot’s support base appeared to have significantly eroded compared to the previous election cycle, with voters reportedly dissatisfied with his performance and accessibility.
Political analysts attribute Opolot’s loss to a combination of internal party friction, voter fatigue, and failure to adapt to changing ground dynamics.
“It was always going to be a tough race for the incumbent,” said local political commentator, Sam Emuron.
“Oucor had a well-organized grassroots campaign and Ojiit was aggressive on community mobilization. The votes were split, but the demand for fresh leadership was evident.”
While announcing the results, Dr. Tanga Odoi praised the people of Serere for their patience and participation in the democratic process.
He acknowledged the earlier concerns raised during the tallying process but said the Commission had addressed the issues fairly and in line with NRM electoral guidelines.
“This has been a competitive, passionate, and, at times, tense primary, but we are proud of the maturity shown by the voters and candidates,” Tanga Odoi stated.
“We reviewed all complaints thoroughly and arrived at a decision that reflects the will of the people of Pingire.”
He urged all candidates to put the primaries behind them and work for party cohesion ahead of the 2026 general elections.
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Oucor deserves this victory, may God bless him and the people of Pingire