Wandera sworn in as Busia LC5 despite a court injunction
Mr Geoffrey Wandera swearing in as the new Busia District Chairperson. PHOTO BY DAVID AWORI
What you need to know:
- The official candidate for NRM, Mr Paul Oguttu who was also disqualified from the race by EC, said Mr Wandera's declaration and swearing in is as a result of the work of a mafia group in the ruling party.
- However, the NRM spokesperson, Mr Rogers Mulindwa denied the allegations and added that the party had no objection to the declaration of Mr Wandera as the elected chairperson.
MBALE: Mr Geoffrey Wandera who was Monday declared winner of the Busia Local Council 5 chairperson race has been sworn in hours after Mbale High Court issued an injunction halting the process.
Busia Chief Magistrate, Ms Catherine Adwero presided over the swearing in ceremony which took place in the court premises on Tuesday afternoon.
The Electoral Commission (EC) had on Monday declared Mr Godfrey Wandera unopposed in the race for Busia LC5 chairperson’s seat after his two rivals were disqualified from the race.
However, one of the disqualified candidates Mr Deo Njoki Hasubi, the joint opposition flag bearer, through his lawyer Yusuf Mutembuli, petitioned the High Court challenging the decision of the Electoral Commission to kick him out of the race.
The court issued an interim injunction on Monday restraining the EC from gazetting Mr Wandera as the validly elected chairperson for Busia LC5 seat until December 18, 2018 when his main petition will be heard.
However, Mr Umar Kiyimba the district returning officer said by the time the interim order was issued, Mr Wandera had already been gazetted.
“The order came in after he already been gazetted,” Mr Kiyimba said.
The official candidate for NRM, Mr Paul Oguttu who was also disqualified from the race by EC, said Mr Wandera's declaration and swearing in is as a result of the work of a mafia group in the ruling party.
“The declaration of Wandera is a work of the mafia group in the ruling party (NRM), which has denied the people of Busia the right to vote their chairperson,” he said.
However, the NRM spokesperson, Mr Rogers Mulindwa denied the allegations and added that the party had no objection to the declaration of Mr Wandera as the elected chairperson.
“We congratulate the winner and we have no problem. We have no objection although our candidate was disqualified. We are still looking for legal advice on the way forward,” he said.
