NRM legislator who failed PLE recalled from parliament

ALEBTONG.
The High Court in Lira District on Wednesday nullified the election of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Christine Acen as Alebtong Woman MP over lack of requisite academic papers.
Court also ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct fresh election in Alebtong District.
In her ruling, justice Night Percy Tuhaise said “there is possibility that the documents Ms Acen used for her nomination were forged since she did not qualify to join secondary school.”

The ruling follows an earlier petition by the legislator’s rival, Ms Elizabeth Abongo of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) challenging the results of the February 18 elections in which Ms Acen was declared winner by the Electoral Commission.
The fully-packed court heard that the first respondent (Ms Acen) sat for Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Ambalal Primary School in Lira District but failed.
According to the evidence adduced in court, Ms Acen got F9 in three subjects: Social Studies, Mathematics and Science, and scored aggregate 8 in English.
Court heard that the MP’s Division U could not make her join secondary school, or take her anywhere.
Mr Acen, however, told court that she studied at Ambalal Primary School in Lira District for her Primary Leaving Education (PLE) from 1991 to 1997.

She told court that during her time, it was not a prerequisite for students joining secondary school to have passed PLE.
“I did register for UCE in Kabale Trinity College in 2001. I used a report card from St Katherine Secondary School [in Lira District] to join Trinity College. I joined St Katherine in 1991 for Senior Two. I was in Faith Academy, Senior One,” Ms Acen had told court during her cross-examination.
“I used the result from Ambalal Primary School to join Faith Academy. At St Katherine, I registered as Acen Christine Ayo. I was at Trinity College for two years- that is from Senior Three to Senior Four – from 2000 to 2001. At Trinity College I sat for my O’ Level certificate and got the minimum requirement….”
She said she had obtained certificate and diploma in development studies at Nsamizi Institute which UNEB equated to advanced level of education.

But in her ruling, justice Tuhaise said the petitioner proved her case that Ms Acen did not have the requisite qualifications to compete in the election.
According to EC results, Ms Acen polled 31,581 votes while the petitioner came second with 18,932 votes in the race where five people contested. Others who also contested for the seat were Ms Dorcus Acen (Independent), UPC’s Sarah Aol and Ms Emily Akullu Omacara (Independent).
However, Ms Acen has since been sworn in and started her duties at Parliament as a Member of Parliament.