Court dismisses election petition against deceased Kayunga LC V chairperson

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court in Mukono has dismissed the petition challenging the election of the late Ffeffekka Sserubogo, the former Kayunga LC V chairperson.

Boniface Musisi Bandikubi petitioned the court challenging the victory of Sserubogo on grounds that he was illegally nominated and lacked the necessary academic qualifications for the position. Sserubugo garnered 27,878 votes while Bandikubi got 2,712 votes.

Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya on Wednesday threw out the application on grounds that Bandikubi and Sserubugo’s lawyers were not in court. She also based her ruling on the notice of withdrawal that was submitted by Bandikubi and attached to the application.

Sserubogo was found hanging dead on a jack fruit tree in June.

In the petition, Bandikubi accused Sserubogo of not presenting his ‘O’ level academic particulars yet he indicated on the Electoral Commission form that he attended Namagabi SS and obtained Uganda Certificate of Education.

He further indicated that in the absence of the UCE slip, the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education-UACE slip he obtained from Bilal Islamic SS lacks an academic foundation yet it is the prerequisite for one to contest.

The petitioner also accused Sserubogo of swearing a deed poll denouncing his name ‘Muhammad’ and changing it to ‘Ffeffekka’ yet it does not appear on his academic documents.

Lady Justice Mukwaya has also set August 20, for the hearing of another petition filed by Andrew Kabugo Kaddu challenging the victory of Joseph Mulindwa who won the LCIII chairperson seat for Kasawo town council.

In the petition, Kaddu challenges the EC for nominating Mulindwa illegally. He also cites results from two polling stations of Kitalya-Busiya A-M and Kitalya Busiya N-Z that were added to the results of Kasawo yet they were for Namuganga sub-county.

Isaac Natala, Kadu’s lawyer wants the court to declare his client a winner since results indicate that he was leading the race before the EC added results from the two polling stations.

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