Rukungiri Woman MP wins petition
Rukungiri Woman MP Winfred Masiko (Centre) and her supporters celebrate after High Court dismissed the election petition filed by her rival Betty Muzanira in 2016. She was not lucky this time as court of appeal ordered a fresh election. File photo
Kabale. The High Court in Kabale District on Monday dismissed the election petition in which the former FDC party flagbearer contesting for the Rukungiri Woman MP sought the nullification of the election results.
Ms Betty Muzanira had claimed that the winner, Ms Winfred Masiko(NRM), was not validly elected as the MP because she committed electoral offences during the campaigns.
The High Court deputy registrar, Mr Samuel Emokor, delivered the judgment signed by Justice JW Kwesiga, dismissing the case with costs.
“The petitioner, like the respondent, engaged good lawyers. Finally, however, this petition is disallowed and the costs of the petition are awarded to the respondent. Any party not satisfied has a right to appeal,” Justice Kwesiga stated in his ruling.
Ms Masiko said it was obvious the petitioner had no evidence to prove her case and she said she would demand Shs300m as costs she incurred during the court process and to rebuild her image “which the petitioner tempered with by putting up false claims and portraying her in public as a person that rigs elections to attain victory”.
Ms Muzanira said she would consult her lawyers and appeal against the judgment.
Background
Ms Betty Muzanira filed the suit in April accusing her opponent of making donations during fundraising, transporting polling materials by non-polling officials that were affiliated to her (Masiko) and that results declared by the district returning officer differed from what was put in the national gazette. However, Ms Masiko denied all the allegations.
