Kween voters want LC 5 boss removed from office

The claims. The petitioners claim that Mr Paul Machinjach was voted into office without the required academic papers.

The Electoral Commission could organise another by- election for Kween District if the petition against the current chairperson, only elected two months ago, goes through.

More than 600 voters led by Mr Francis Tinei have dragged Mr Paul Machinjach to the High Court in Mbale over lack of the minimum academic requirements.

Mr Machinjach (NRM) was sworn in as the district chairperson after winning the November 28 by-election with 11,575 votes against his close rival Mr Nelson Chelimo [Independent], who got 8,252 votes. FDC’s Tom Chemusto, who is also Mr Machinjach’s biological son, garnered 974 votes.

The seat had fallen vacant after the Kampala High Court on August 31, 2011 nullified the election of Mr Lawrence Mungusho, on grounds of lack of requisite academic qualifications and failure to comply with the electoral laws.
The voters now claim that Mr Machinjach, at the time of the election, was not academically qualified for the election because he never completed the minimum education requirement of Advanced Level.

Through their lawyers, Ms Illukor Advocates & Solicitors, the petitioners claim that although Mr Machinjach produced a certificate from Business Skills Trust Institute, the institute is not accredited and recognised by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

They also allege that the district boss failed to lodge documents with the EC in two weeks prior to nomination as required by law, a thing that NCHE also ignored.

In their petition seen by the Daily Monitor, they allege that the EC failed and or neglected its statutory duty to ascertain the imperfections in nomination papers of Mr Machinjach and to reject his nomination.

When reached by the Daily Monitor, Mr Machinjach denied the accusations and said he has the required qualifications. He added that the petitioners are disgruntled losers who will be soon brought to shame.

dmafabi@ug.nationmedia.com