Kamukama loses second petition seeking to block rival’s nomination as NRM candidate

Mbarara, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  High court in Mbarara has for the second time thrown out an application filed by Molly Kamukama, the Economics Monitoring State Minister seeking to block the nomination of her rival, Jenifer Muheesi as the National Resistance Movement-NRM party candidate for the Kazo District Woman parliamentary seat. 

Kamukama had returned to court seeking a temporary injunction stopping her rival’s nomination on grounds that her main application seeking to nullify Muheesi’s victory in the primaries would be rendered useless if she goes through with the nominations.   

However, Muheesi through her lawyer, Mark Mugisha told court that she and her party would suffer irreparable damage if she misses today’s nominations. She also argued the application for an injunction has been taken over by events. 

In his ruling, the Mbarara High Court Deputy Registrar, Silver Twakire rejected the application, saying the applicant had failed to present substantial groundings to warrant court to block Muheesi’s nomination.

Kamukama ran to court after the Kazo District NRM Registrar, Joseph Ndibarema declared Muheesi winner of Kazo woman MP flag after polling 16,802 votes against Kamukama’s 16,715 votes. 

She rejected the poll results and petitioned the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi for a fresh tally.  

The tally confirmed Muheesi’s victory prompting Kamukama to petition court to cancel the poll results on grounds that the exercise was marred with irregularities and voter bribery.

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