Katuntu opponent runs back to court over ruling
Bugweri County MP, Mr Abdu Katuntu, (2nd right) jubilates with his supporters after the election petition was first dismissed last year. Photo by DENIS EDEMA
JINJA- Lawyers of Mr Daniel Ibaale, the former NRM candidate in the February 18, parliamentary elections for the Bugweri County seat, are to appeal the Monday decision by Justice Margaret Mutonyi to uphold Mr Abdul Katuntu’s victory.
Mr Ibaale’s lawyer, Hassan Kamba, told Daily Monitor at the High Court premises in Jinja on Wednesday afternoon that they are under instructions to file an appeal on Monday.
“We have to appeal. We do not agree with the judgment because we are sure our client brought substantial evidence of electoral offences,” Mr Kamba said. Mr Katuntu of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), who has represented the constituency since 2001, was declared winner of the seat with 23,596 votes against Mr Ibaale’s 23,195 votes.
The former NRM flag bearer declined to concede defeat and petitioned court seeking to either have Mr Katuntu’s election cancelled and consequently have him declared the winner of the polls or have fresh elections.
In his petition, Mr Ibaale accused Mr Katuntu of having forged results, intimidated voters and employed vulgar language in order to win the election.
However, on Monday morning, Justice Margaret Mutonyi dismissed the petition and asked Ibaale to pay costs of the suit to both Mr Katuntu and the Electoral Commission (EC).
“The petitioner failed to produce enough evidence to prove that MP Katuntu breached election regulations during his campaign for re-election as a Member of Parliament for Bugweri County. Therefore, court finds no merit in the petition,” she ruled.
