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The Court of Appeal has thrown out of Parliament Kamuli Municipality MP Rehema Tiwuwe Watongola on grounds that she lacks the required academic qualification.
Three justices led by Richard Buteera concurred with Jinja High Court judge Geoffrey Namundi that Watongola failed to explain her academic papers after being disowned by Busoga University which she claims to have awarded them.
The judges dismissed the appeal, ordered Watongola to pay FDC’s Salaam Musumba costs, and that the Electoral Commission should conduct fresh elections. The Court of Appeal’s Assistant Registrar read the judgement on behalf of the three Justices.
Watongola had run to Court of Appeal challenging the Jinja High court decision of June last year that nullified her victory after Musumba’s successful election petition.
Watongola accused the trial judge of not properly evaluating the evidence on record, and arrived at a wrong conclusion that she lacks the academic qualification.
In her petition Musumba supported her claim against Watongola with the affidavit of Busoga University Vice Chancellor David Kibikyo.
The Chancellor stated that in June 200,5 the period in which Watongola claims to have been awarded a certificate in Public Administration and Management, Busoga University had not started offering this course. They had gone ahead to revoke Watongola’s Diploma and Degree that she had attained in the same discipline, using the forged certificate.
Musumba also revealed that there was a criminal charge against Watongola in respect of the same document before Iganga Magistrate court, but she never appeared in court untill the case was dismissed for want of prosecution.
