Hon. Kassiano Wadri has been sworn in as the new Arua Municipality Member of Parliament. Wadri took oath of parliament this afternoon before the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.
The newly elected MP who replaces the late Ibrahim Abiriga was accompanied by his daughter, the Ntungamo Municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga, Opposition Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, Aswa County MP, Reagan Okumu among others.
Prior to the ceremony, the Deputy speaker Oulanyah, hilariously said he had been late as he awaited an injunction staying the swearing in of Wadri. The Deputy Speaker further reveale that Wadri's swearing in gives some confidence to the institutions of the country.
After the ceremony, a jovial Wadri told Journalists that his swearing in and victory is not a small achievement as he was voted while in jail amidst intimidation of the voters.
“All I can say is that the wishes of the people of Arua Municipality have been achieved that they now have a representative to talk on their behalf in the Parliament of Uganda. I owe a lot to the people of Arua Municipality for them to have made history in this country. It is the first of its kind that the electorate can stand strong behind their candidate and vote him into parliament while behind bars” Wadri said.
Incarcerated Wadri beat 11 free candidates in the Arua municipality parliamentary by-election held two weeks ago, garnering 6421 polls. His main challenger was NRM's Nusura Tiperu who polled 4798 votes, while in third position was Robert Ejiku with 2694 votes.
FDC candidate Bruce Musema came fourth with 1369 votes.
Kassiano Wadri represented Terego County in the 7th, 8th and 9th Parliament before losing the seat in the 2016 polls.
