Who Are You to Challenge Anita Among? Dr. Tanga Odoi Blocks Hellen Odeke From the Race

Hellen Odeke Akol, a strong political figure from Bukedea District, is once again facing serious challenges as she tries to run for the Woman Member of Parliament seat in the 2025 elections. She is competing against the current MP, Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among. Akol believes that, just like in 2020, some powerful people are working hard to stop her unfairly using tricks, lies, and abuse of the system.

How the Fight Started

Akol's new troubles began during the National Electoral Commission’s voter registration update. When she went to the Bukedea District office, she was shocked to find that her name had been removed from the voters’ register. She later contacted the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, and they told her her name was still listed in the system. This raised a red flag.

She then checked the NRM party register—where her name was also missing. This was a big problem, as only registered NRM members can take part in the party primaries.

To stop this injustice, Akol wrote to the NRM Party Chairperson, President Yoweri Museveni, and also to the Party Secretary-General. After an investigation, it was confirmed that her name had been wrongly and deliberately removed from the NRM register—not by accident.

The Secretary-General acted fast. He ordered that her name be restored and gave her official documents proving her membership. Confident she had cleared the issue, Akol paid her nomination fee and waited to receive her forms.

But then, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who leads the NRM Electoral Commission, refused to give her the forms. He reportedly told her, “You’ve wasted your money,” in a rude manner.

More Evidence, But Still Blocked

Akol went back to the Secretary-General for help. On June 10th, he told her about the results of a forensic investigation. It showed that someone had used ink to cover her name in the original NRM register, but her name was still visible underneath.

Using this proof, the Secretary-General again instructed Dr. Tanga Odoi to give Akol her nomination forms.

But even after this, Akol was still denied the forms. Her chance to officially enter the race remained blocked.

Another Legal Plot

Then came a court summons. On June 13th, Akol received legal papers with a hearing scheduled for June 16th—only three days later. This gave her almost no time to prepare.

The case was filed by Akol Zipola, who claims to be a member of the NRM—and is also the sister of Anita Among, Akol’s main opponent. Zipola accused Hellen Akol of registering in a village she doesn’t live in and claimed she supports the opposition FDC party.

Many people believe this is just a political move to stop Akol, especially because of Zipola’s close relationship with Anita Among.

This reminds many of what happened in 2020, when Akol was stopped from running due to another legal case. Though she later won that case, the delay helped Anita Among run unopposed.

The Same Pattern, Again

Now in 2025, Akol is going through the same experience. She says clearly, “I have never registered in Ocekereni village.” She refuses to give up and says she is fighting not just for herself, but for the people of Bukedea who deserve free and fair elections.

The court hearing is set for July 17th—two weeks after the nomination deadline of June 30th. Akol believes this is a deliberate move to keep her out of the race. Meanwhile, Dr. Tanga Odoi has already announced that Anita Among is unopposed, raising serious concerns about fairness.

From removing her name from registers, refusing her forms, to legal tricks—Akol believes there is a planned effort to silence her and block real competition.

Her Message to the Public

Akol is now asking important questions:

“What does democracy mean for Bukedea?”

“How can one person’s power be more important than the rights of an entire district?”

“How can government offices and courts be used to help only one person?”

She says this is bigger than her—it’s about protecting democracy in Uganda. She still hopes that President Museveni will step in and stop these unfair actions.

Final Words: The Fight for Fairness

Hellen Odeke Akol is not just running for office—she is standing against political injustice. She wants fair and open elections where the people decide their leaders, not a few powerful individuals.

If she succeeds, it will be a win for all Ugandans who care about democracy. But with little time left, the question remains: Will justice be done, or will power and corruption win again?