FDC candidate pinned over illegal voting in Sheema municipality by-election

Former Forum for Democratic Change candidate in the July 2018 Sheema Municipality by-elections, Ms Virginia Plan Mugyenyi. COURTESY PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Mr Sabiiti told court that the petitioner committed an offence to vote yet she was not a registered voter which calls for criminal sermons at the end of the trial on the recommendation of the presiding judge.
  • Justice Bashaija said the petitioner dipped her thumb in indelible ink which is mandatory for whoever casts a ballot.

MBARARA- Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the July 2018 Sheema Municipality by-elections has asked for forgiveness after court was told that she voted at Migina Polling Station, in Sheema Municipality, yet she was not a registered voter in the constituency.

Mbarara High Court that was presided over by Andrew Bashaija on Wednesday, discovered that Ms Virginia Plan Mugyenyi, who went to court to contest the victory of Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, voted for herself at Migina Polling Station, yet she was not a registered voter in Sheema Municipality.

Ms Mugyenyi lost to her closest rival Dr Tumwesigye who stood on the ticket of the ruling National Resistance Movement.
She bagged 11,489 votes while Dr Tumwesigye garnered 13,590 votes.
Other contenders were Mr Beniamin Ruyombya (867 votes), Mr Meshach Katusiime (756 votes), Mr Raymond Kamugisha (276 votes), Mr Jonas Tumwine (185 votes) and Mr Ambrose Mwesigye Blackman (32 votes).

Court was told by Mr Eric Sabiiti, the Electoral Commission lawyer that Ms Mugyenyi is a registered voter at Ruhimbo Polling Station, Kabingo Town Council, in Isingiro District.
Mr Sabiiti also produced video evidence that shows Ms Mugyenyi voting at Migina Polling Station.

Court had earlier dismissed the same video evidence that was presented by Mr Kandebe Ntambirweki, Dr Tumwesigye’s lawyer.
During cross-examination on Wednesday, Ms Mugyenyi asked for forgiveness saying she only helped her blind and sick mother vote.

"I want you to take it from me, my mother will be brought here, my people will also come here and they will confirm that I voted for my mother who is 75 years,” Ms Mugyenyi said. “She is diabetic and blind. My lord I pray that you forgive me for I voted but I voted for my mother."

Mr Sabiiti told court that the petitioner committed an offence to vote yet she was not a registered voter which calls for criminal sermons at the end of the trial on the recommendation of the presiding judge.
Justice Bashaija said the petitioner dipped her thumb in indelible ink which is mandatory for whoever casts a ballot.

"What was brought here [video evidence] shows that she [Ms Mugyenyi] picks the ballot paper and then votes and finally gets the ink. Who should be thumb inked? The thumb marking is to imply that somebody has voted so that you cannot do multiple voting," Justice Bashaija said.

Ms Mugyenyi apologised and asked the presiding judge to allow her bring her mother to testify that she voted for her.
The case continued on Thursday with the cross-examination of more witnesses.