Dokolo, Uganda | Journalists who covered a recent NRM campaign rally in Bata Subcounty have condemned Apenyo Ivan, alias Mr. Van, for fabricating claims that parliamentary aspirant Joseph Jones Ogwal Omara assaulted him during the event.
According to journalists present at the rally, no such incident occurred, and the allegations are false.
They clarified that Apenyo Ivan attended the rally not as an accredited journalist but as an MC.
His actions, they said, undermine the credibility of professional journalists and misrepresent the standards of ethical reporting.
They further warned that such behaviour damages public trust in the media and risks discrediting legitimate coverage of the political process.
Joseph Jones Ogwal Omara, a leading contender for the NRM flag in Dokolo North Constituency, denied all allegations.
He stated that he was never involved in any altercation and was not arrested, as had been claimed.
He explained that he only questioned Apenyo’s role at the rally, given that he was participating as an MC rather than a reporter, and that this was misrepresented as an assault by political rivals.
Ogwal Omara accused Okello Raphael, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Dokolo District, of using his office to circulate false information in favour of the incumbent MP and current flag bearer.
He expressed concern over the party’s silence on the matter and questioned why no official statement had been issued to correct the record.
He confirmed that his legal team has been consulted regarding the matter.
According to unconfirmed reports, the ongoing smear campaign against Ogwal Omara is being facilitated by fellow aspirant Alfred Junior Okello, who is reportedly struggling to gain grassroots support, and the incumbent MP, Moses Ogwal Goli.
Ogwal Omara described the situation as a deliberate strategy to damage his credibility ahead of the July 17 NRM primaries.
Community members have also dismissed the claims.
Odongo Mukwano, a resident of Atabu in Bata Subcounty who attended the rally, said the allegations were unfounded and politically motivated.
He described the incident as a propaganda tactic by candidates who lack support on the ground.
Obote Ben, the NRM Chairperson of Bata Subcounty, also refuted the reports aired on some local radio stations and shared online.
He urged voters to treat the allegations as false and to focus on issues that matter in the upcoming elections.
Attempts to reach Dokolo District NRM Chairperson Geoffrey Opio Ekong for comment were unsuccessful.
His known telephone number was active, but he did not respond to calls and had not returned them by the time of publication.
The NRM primaries in Dokolo North are set for July 17, 2025.
