Luweero to vote MP for 5th time in 6 years
What you need to know:
Background. Since 2011, there have been several by-elections for the district Woman MP seat, with another round to follow after last week’s court ruling.
Luweero.
With the High Court’s June 17 nullification of the election of Ms Lillian Nakate as Luweero Woman MP, the district is going to set a new record of electing their representative for the fifth time in just six years.
The interval for election of a Member of Parliament is every after five years, according to electoral laws. However, the Luweero District Woman MP seat has defied the normal order. Voters in the district will, since 2011, have voted for the woman MP seat for the fifth time when the by-election is held.
On February 18, 2011, Ms Rebecca Nalwanga was declared winner against her closest rival, Ms Anna Kirabo Asiimwe. Her stay in Parliament was short-lived after Dr Elizabeth Nabatanzi Lugudde petitioned court, challenging her victory.
High Court in September 2011 nullified Ms Nalwanga’s election after she was found guilty of voter bribery, having contributed Shs50,000 for the repair of a borehole at Kiwumpa village during the campaign period.
In March 2014, the Court of Appeal ordered for a by-election, upholding an earlier High Court decision to nullify the election of Ms Brenda Nabukenya as Woman MP for Luweero District citing non-compliance to the electoral laws by the Electoral Commission. Another by-election was held on May 22, 2014, where Ms Nabukenya was declared winner.
On February 18, 2016, Ms Lillian Nakate was declared winner for the District Woman MP seat. Justice David Batema on June 18 declared the seat vacant after faulting the Electoral Commission for non-compliance with the electoral laws while Ms Nakate was implicated in acts of voter bribery contrally to electoral laws.
Who is to blame?
While some voters are quick to fault the Electoral Commission (EC) for what they claim is poor education of voters and candidates on electoral guidelines and laws, a section of voters think candidates culpable of electoral malpractices should be barred from standing again.
“We cannot fault the voters but the electoral body in charge of the election and the candidates contesting. In each of the by-elections, the court faults the EC and the candidates on matters that are very clear but were simply ignored,” says Mr Charles Kabanda, a resident of Bukalasa village in Katikamu Sub-county.
Mr John Sseguja, an activist and Executive Director of Community Development and Child Welfare Initiative, says voter bribery must be made risky.
“Political campaigns fall below the minimum requirements to the extent that voter bribery becomes a normal activity,” he said in an interview yesterday.
“Why should voters organise a function where a candidate is tasked to contribute money which turns out to be a bribe? The candidates should be in position to interpret and follow the electoral guidelines,” he added.
The NRM national vice chairperson for central region, Hajj Abdul Nadduli, said: “If court has annulled the election, the EC should prepare to avoid repeat of the same mistakes.”
