Alaso wins petition in Serere as Nakapiripirit woman MP retains seat

Former Nakapiripirit District MP, Rose Iriama walks out of Soroti High Court lamenting and disappointed at the ruling. She said she would appeal against the court ruling in her petition was dismissed. PHOTO BY JOSEPH EIGU ONYANGO

What you need to know:

Meanwhile, court also dismissed the election petition of Nakapiripirit District Woman Member of Parliament

SOROTI
There was jubilation at Soroti High Court, Alice Alaso Asianut, was declared winner of a petition case against the newly-elected Serere District Woman Member of Parliament Hellen Adoa (NRM).
Alaso lost the seat to her longtime competitor, Adoa, in a highly disputed election in February by 48,762 votes to 32,651 votes. Through her lawyers, M/S Tugwako Co. Advocates Alaso went to court to quash Adoa’s victory, stating that the election was flawed by negligence.
In a verdict read by Soroti Chief Magistrate, Ruth Nabaasa, on Monday, court nullified the election of Adoa in favour of Alaso’s petition on grounds that there was non-compliance of the electoral laws by the 2nd respondent.

“Court found out that there was fraudulent distribution of sugar, soap and salt across the constituency coupled with the use of government motor vehicles taken to every rally,” the verdict read, adding that was also arrest, harassment, jailing of the campaign agents of the petitioner coupled with thousands of unexplained ballot papers at polling stations.
The verdict also stated that according to court findings, it was clear that those matters affected the results in a substantial manner and therefore the court nullified the elections of Adoa according to the petitioner’s prayers at the time of going to court.
Upon hearing this statement, Alaso’s supporters burst into joyous celebrations inside the court room that was parked with both FDC and NRM supporters from across Teso and Nakapiripirit.
Alaso’s supporters then carried her out of the court premises while chanting FDC party slogans and then knelt down in a group in the court compound to pray.
However, Adoa told the press later, outside the court room, that she will soon consult with her lawyer to decide a way forward.

Meanwhile, court also dismissed the election petition of Nakapiripirit District Woman Member of Parliament.
Court found out that the court petition logged by Nakapiripirit former Woman MP, Rose Iriama against the newly elected woman MP Esther Davinia Anyakun could not overturn the results and the elections.
In the the February elections, Anyakun had scored 12,963 votes against 11,033 votes garnered by the petitioner who disputed the results saying that the votes were more than the voters. However court said this argument was not substantial enough to overturn the results.

“The petition fails on the grounds that the petitioner did not satisfy court on the validity of the grounds upon which the petition was based. Bribery allegations against the second respondent were not proved, and instances of non-compliance of electoral laws by the second respondent did not affect the results of the election in a substantial manner and it is therefore my finding that the first respondent was validly elected as women MP for Nakapiripirit District. The petition is therefore dismissed with costs,” Judge David K. Wangutusi’s judgement stated.
The case was ruled in the absence of the respondent Anyakun whose relatives present at the court said she had traveled to Ethiopia for national duty.
However, Iriama later told Daily Monitor during an interview that she is not content with the ruling.