Vigilance Wins: His Worship Hon. Labeja Julius Gunya Takes Gulu City Mayorship

By dawn, Gulu City had spoken—not loudly, but firmly.

His Worship Hon. Labeja Julius Gunya, popularly known as Gunya, has officially clinched the Gulu City mayoral seat after one of the most closely watched and tension-filled elections the city has witnessed in recent years. This was not a casual victory. It was a defended one.

From the first ballot cast, it became clear that the election would be decided as much by alertness as by numbers. Reports from various polling stations pointed to attempted electoral mischief, including alleged pre-ticked ballot papers and last-minute inducements aimed at boda boda riders on voting day. The message was simple: relax, and you lose.

What changed the story was vigilance—relentless, organized, and loud enough to be felt. Gunya’s camp, backed by artists, media practitioners, and committed observers, maintained constant pressure throughout the day and deep into the tallying process. Cameras stayed on. Voices stayed raised. Every suspicious move was questioned, documented, and challenged.

As tensions escalated, the police stepped in at critical moments to enforce the rules and regulations of the Uganda Electoral Commission. Their intervention, though late, proved decisive. Order was restored, irregularities curtailed, and the process brought back within the guardrails of the law.

By early morning, confirmation of the results triggered an outpouring of congratulatory messages from across Uganda and the diaspora. Many highlighted the background of His Worship the Mayor, who spent several years in Canada working within a mayor’s office—experience that has fueled optimism about disciplined governance, institutional reform, and a more globally informed city administration.

In the end, the voters trusted the process—and more importantly, they protected it. That trust carried His Worship Hon. Labeja Julius Gunya to City Hall.

Now, Gulu City turns the page.

With hopes alive and expectations unmistakably high, residents are watching closely for reforms, accountability, and a clear break from the controversies and bad manners that defined the previous administration. The mandate is fresh. The spotlight is unforgiving.

The city has handed over the keys.
The work begins now.

Welcome to office, His Worship Hon. Labeja Julius Gunya, Mayor of Gulu City.