Africa-Press – Uganda. More complainants have come up to challenge the elections of newly elected Members of Parliament in Masaka Sub-Region citing electoral malpractices in the January 14 polls.
By Monday evening, six fresh petitions had been filed at Masaka High Court, with the majority challenging the victory of Opposition MPs who won the bulk of seats in the sub-region. Among those dragged to court include; National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Dr Christine Ndiwalana who won Bukomansimbi North parliamentary seat. Her victory is challenged by two people in separate election petitions.
The petitioners include; the incumbent, Ms Ruth Katushabe, of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), who accuses Dr Ndiwalana of vote-rigging and voter bribery while Ms Anita Tushemereirwe, a voter, accuses Dr Ndiwalana of vote-rigging.
Ms Olivia Mugabe (Ind), who lost the Bukoto West constituency parliamentary race, has contested the victory of Mr Muhammad Ssentayi of NUP, claiming that the latter rigged votes and bribed voters.
Mr Martin Henry Bazanya, a voter in Bukoto Central constituency has dragged the MP-elect, Mr Richard Ssebamala, to court challenging his victory.
Mr Bazanya claims that Mr Ssebamala of the Democratic Party (DP) is not registered as a voter in the constituency. Mr Ssebamala defeated Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in the race for the Bukoto Central seat, which the latter has represented since 1996.
Another election petition is filed by Ms Grace Nalubega (NUP) who lost to incumbent Rakai District Woman MP, Ms Juliet Suubi Kinyamatama. The former accuses the latter of voter rigging.
Mr Ismail Wagaba Ddibya who only polled only 72 votes in the race for Mawogola North Constituency parliamentary seat, has challenged the victory of Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa’s daughter, Ms Shartis Musherure Kutesa.
Mr Ddibya claims that polls in the constituency were marred by gross irregularities ranging from vote-rigging to voter bribery and he wants the court to order for a fresh election.
According to the Electoral Commission results Ms Kutesa, who was an NRM leaning independent candidate polled 17,274 votes followed by Salim Kiseeka (Ind) with 2,544, NUP’s Henry Nyanzi Mawejje collected 2,346 votes, Catherine Nakayiza (Ind) got 2,025 votes, Hillary Tukundane (Ind) got 138 votes while Aine Godfrey Kaguta aka Sodo who pulled out of the race at the last minute, got five votes.
