Hearing of Rukungiri election petition begins
Former Rukungiri District Woman MP, Ms Winfred Komuhangi Masiko
What you need to know:
The by-election came after Court of Appeal nullified election of Ms Masiko on grounds of bribing voters during the 2016 election.
The High Court in Kabale District has started hearing an election petition filed by the former Rukungiri District Woman MP, Ms Winfred Komuhangi Masiko.
Ms Masiko petitioned the High Court on July 6 seeking nullification of the declared results where Ms Betty Muzanira was announced the winner. Mr Masiko is asking for an order for fresh election claiming the process was marred with several irregularities and malpractices.
The hearing that started on Monday is being presided over by Justice Moses Kawumi Kazibwe.
Declaring winner
On June 1, the Rukungiri District returning officer, Mr Umaru Kiyimba, declared Ms Muzanira of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party the winner of the election conducted on May 31 after she polled 50,611 votes.
Ms Masiko polled 46,379 votes while Ms Sezi Mbaguta, who contested on Independent ticket, got 993 and Ms Fabith Kukundakwe of the People’s Progressive Party polled 183 votes.
Lawyers, Justus Karuhanga and Mr Edwin Tabaro are representing Ms Masiko. Mr Jude Byamukama is representing Ms Muzanira and Mr Patrick Wetaka is representing the Electoral Commission, the second respondent in the case.
Ms Masiko’s lawyers said the affidavits of 32 witnesses were filed and served to them on Thursday (January 31) which is out scale time, and asked court to dismiss them and proceed with the case.
Ms Muzanira’s lawyers asked court to dismiss the case because 18 out of 24 affidavits presented by the petitioner do not conform to the illiterates protection act. Justice Kawumi Kazibwe adjourned the hearing to Tuesday when he is expected to give ruling on the preliminary objections raised by both parties.
