Court dismisses election petition against Bukomansimbi North MP

Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court in Masaka has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Bukomansimbi North Member of Parliament Christine Ndiwalana Nandagire.

Anita Tushemerirwe, a voter in Bukomansimbi district petitioned the court demanding the annulment of Nandagire’s victory on grounds of violating parliamentary election laws.

According to the petition, Tushemerirwe accused Nandagire of bribing voters on polling day. She also alleged that Nandagire is not a registered voter in Bukomansimbi and therefore does not qualify to be nominated and elected Member of Parliament.

However, in a ruling on Thursday, Justice Ketra Katunguuka dismissed the petition due to lack of substantial evidence to prove the allegations against Nandagire. According to Katunguuka, Tushemerirwe failed to tell the court who her rival bribed.

Court also ruled that the petition failed on several procedural grounds after it was established that Tushemerirwe did not make any statutory oaths and that most of her documents were not properly commissioned as required.

According to Justice Katunguuka, Tushemerirwe had enough time to correct the inconsistencies but failed to utilize her time appropriately.

Katunguuka also said that Tushemerirwe failed to serve her rival with copies of all her affidavits and that she was not a voter in Bukomansimbi North.

She also noted that Tushemerirwe seemed to have abandoned the petition after failing to appear in court twice during proceedings despite reminders sent to her.

After the court ruling, Nandagire’s lawyer David Ssekanjako noted that they are going to slap costs on Tushemerirwe for filing petitions she could not support with evidence.

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