Africa-Press – Uganda. Mbale High Court has upheld the election of Ms Connie Nakayenze Galiwango as Mbale City Woman Member of Parliament and dismissed, with costs, the election petition filed by Ms Lydia Wanyoto.
After the January 2021 general election, Ms Wanyoto who was the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer in the Mbale City Woman MP race refused to concede, arguing that the electoral process was marred by widespread fraud allegedly orchestrated by Ms Galiwango and electoral commission.
This was the Electoral Commission (EC) results indicated that Ms Galiwango, who contested as an Independent candidate after losing the NRM primaries, garnered 40,729 (53.28 per cent) votes while Ms Wanyoto got 25,276 (33.06 per cent) votes in the January 14 general election.
Consequently, Ms Wanyoto filed a petition asking court to nullify Galiwango’s victory.
VIDEO: Mbale High Court has upheld the election of Ms Connie Nakayenze Galiwango (Independent) as Mbale Woman MP and dismissed, with costs, an election petition filed by Ms Lydia Wanyoto (@NRMOnline)#MonitorUpdates
? Micheal Woniala pic.twitter.com/NYKzgyGXUB
“The second respondent (Galiwango) resoundingly won the election with 40,729 votes against the 25,276 votes. That is a wild margin given that there were four other candidates in the race. The success of such a winning candidate at election cannot be interfered with or taken away without any justification. It should be upheld, having found that the petitioner is not entitled to any remedies. The petition is therefore, dismissed in its entirety with costs to first and second respondent,” Justice Andrew Byabashaija ruled.
VIDEO: Mbale City Woman MP Connie Galiwango reacts after court upheld her victory and dismissed Ms Lydia Wanyoto’s election petition https://t.co/MEZnFUXfhf#MonitorUpdates
? Micheal Woniala pic.twitter.com/lg5kZxEVz4
Ms Wanyoto, however, told journalists after the court proceedings that she was not satisfied with the court decision and that she’s going to petition court of appeal.
VIDEO: Ms Lydia Wanyoto reacts after Mbale High Court dismissed her election petition and upheld the victory of Ms Connie Galiwango as Mbale City Woman MP#MonitorUpdates
? Micheal Woniala pic.twitter.com/MMkISWPXEI
