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BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
MADI OKOLLO: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Ismail Drabe, the LC5 chairman of Madi-Okollo district has told the people that election of the district council is over and that it is now time to make 2026 a year of working hard to beat poverty and improve household incomes.
He made the remarks in an interview on Saturday after the Magistrates Court in Arua confirmed his electoral victory.
Drabe who was the National Resistance Movement flag bearer secured a second term with 16,014 votes, defeating Bruno Onzima, an independent candidate who obtained 15,917 votes.
However Onzima could not swallow the difference of 97 votes and decided to take the matter to the court demanding a recount of the ballots but the magisterial court dismissed the petition saying the matter was filed in the wrong court.
“Ideally I should have been the one taking my brother to court and not vice versa because my own tallying indicated that I had defeated him by 6,000 votes but I was surprised that in final tally the difference was narrowed to 97. Some unscrupulous Madi’s changed results,” Drabe insisted.
He thanked the electorate for showing increased support and trust in his leadership, disclosing that it was the first time he have got 16, 000 votes in an election.
“After this election I appeal that we stay peaceful. If we continue quarreling, we will not be able to develop Mdai Okollo. Let us forget past events and focus for the future because we shall have another election in 2031,” he asserted.
Drabe reminded the people that for a long time, they have been doing subsistence farming and petty business without plan.
He urged the people to adopt President Yoweri Museveni’s advice on four-acre model so that they are able to plant variety of crops each year and properly use their agricultural land.
“Let 2026 be a year of hard work, utilize the Parish Development Model Funds optimally for the benefit of your families,” he advised.
The LC5 said 2026 is a unique and blessed year for Madi Okollo because it has started with the return of the white rhinos, a long overdue development that would impact tourism and related businesses.
“Luckily enough this year has begun on a positive note. We received the White Rhinos back to their natural habitat. We anticipate an uptick in the number of visitors who will want to see White Rhinos,” said chairman Drabe.
He explained that although they had expected many of White Rhinos (22 in number), the experts handling the sensitive beasts advised that they begin with four and observe how they are coping.
He assured the people that when eventually, they increase the area prepared to host the Rhino, the balance would be trans-located from Ziwa sanctuary.
Drabe however indicated that the people are also eagerly waiting for the Uganda Wildlife Authority to introduce Zebras and Giraffes to Ajai in addition to the buffalos and the Kobs that are already enjoying the area.
“This will create job opportunities and business opportunities. Visitors need accommodation and food such as yams, tomatoes, rice and handcrafts as souvenirs,” he added.
He thanked the UWA for the sh2.4 billion compensation to the residents and park neighbours in Degia many of whom are not constructing decent houses and opening business ventures.
But Drabe urged UWA to finish the job compensating people especially those in Olali who were displaced from Madali where the White Rhinos now roam, and the Ogoko people whose clan chief Ajai was the architect of the founding of the game reserve.
“There were people in Madali who were given some tokens but majority, especially the Olali people were not compensated. We still appeal to UWA to mobilise funds to compensate them. On the Ogoko side where Ajai and his clansmen were displaced, we seriously ask UWA to consider this request,” drabe emphasized.
