On Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, major Ugandan cities wrapped up mayoral elections, marking a new chapter in local leadership focused on governance, development, and service delivery.
Gulu City saw Labeja Julius Acire (Independent) declared mayor-elect, ending incumbent Okwonga Alfred's (NRM) one-term mayoral leadership."
Labeja secured 12,281 votes, while his other five contenders: Okwonga Alfred (NRM) got 9,586 votes, Obonyo Marc Anthony (Indep) scored 1,023 votes, Okello Johnathan Snoop (Indep) secured 443 votes, Okello Denis Oweka (Indep) got 340 votes, and Obonyo Patrick Wokorac (Indep) got 67 votes.
The total number of valid votes is 23,740, while invalid votes stands at 664, bringing the total number of ballot papers cast to 24404
Labeja Julius Acire has a programs management background. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Development Studies from Makerere University, with specializations in Participatory Methods in Rural Social Development, Research Methods, and Enterprise Development. He also has certificates in Project Monitoring & Evaluation and Project Planning & Management.
He has over five years' experience in Strategic and Operational Management with NGOs like International Red Cross, Norwegian Refugee Council, and World Food Program. He worked in Kampala with social enterprises like The Achievers Foundation and The R.A.I.S.E Program.
Labeja is passionate about community empowerment, youth programs, and education. He supports social entrepreneurship and team building for long-term impact.
