By Mulengera Reporters
In exercise of their right bestowed under Section 61 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which permits an aggrieved person to petition the High Court within 30 days after the gazzeting of the winners, several former MP candidates have filed petitions seeking nullification of the winners’ victory.
The directly elected MPs were gazetted on 1st March this year and women MPs were proclaimed on 6th February. Those dissatisfied with their victory for whatever reason must petition the High Court within 30 days and the respondents must file their defense within 10 days after being served the Court process.
It’s therefore understandable why a good number of the newly-gazetted MPs are having sleepless nights. And those falling in that category include Busiro East’s Matovu Magoola whose win has been challenged by Hajji Abdul Kiyimba of NRM plus Kalungu woman MP Aisha Ssekindi (also water Minister) whose victory is being challenged by NRM’s Hellen Nakeeya who she defeated.
Joseph Sewungu of Kalungu West (NUP) is also sweating plasma after Kampala real estate dealer Ismael Ssemakula, who he defeated with just 46 votes, filing a petition demanding nullification. Their petitions are under the Masaka High Court.
Asinansi Nyakato (Woman MP Hoima City), who is one of the only two MPs PFF has in the 12th Parliament, also has reason to sweat because her NRM opponent Princess Dianah Rouse Jane Mugenyi Abwooli has hired the notorious Mwesigwa Rukutana Advocates to challenge her victory. She is being accused of voter bribery among others.
Businessman Mwesigwa Rukaari is challenging Christopher Bakashaba’s victory as the MP for Mbarara City North. He is challenging his academic qualifications. Sarah Opendi is challenging Tororo Woman MP-elect Angela Okoth on grounds there was fraud. Opendi was defeated by Okoth with only 35 votes.
In Masaka, NRM’s Joanita Nalule is challenging the victory of NUP’s Joan Namutawe who defeated her for the position of Masaka rural district woman MP. Her ground is that there was noncompliance with the law in the manner the EC conducted the elections there.
Dr. Sarah Nkonge is once again back to torment Lwengo Woman MP Cissy Namujju, accusing her of overt vote rigging. Kyotera Woman MP Rose Fortunate Nantongo of NUP is facing NRM’s Scola Kalibbala who is demanding fresh elections. In nearby Rakai, NUP’s Grace Nalubega is once again challenging NRM Juliet Kinyamatama’s victory. Nalubega contends that there was plenty of results’ falsification.
In Bukomansimbi, NRM’s Ruth Katushabe’s victory has been challenged by NUP’s Veronica Nanyondo accusing her of results’ falsification. Mary Begumisa, the outgoing Sembabule Woman MP and also a pastor, has petitioned challenging the victory of Florence Nambaziira.
Instead of NUP’s Charles Matovu who polled over 35,000 votes but still lost, Busiro South’s Joseph Kayemba has petitioned challenging the victory of NRM’s Kenan Opio. He is accused of lacking requisite academic qualifications.
Mbarara district Woman MP-elect Loydah Kyarikunda Twinomujuni could end up being bankrupted while fighting off the petition which Margaret Ayebare has filed against her victory. It’s her academic qualifications that are being challenged, as the petitioner says they are all full of discrepancies and there is a lot she needs to explain herself about.
Buwekula South MP-elect (in Mubende) Didan Mubangizi of NRM has been challenged by Fred Tumwesigye who he narrowly and controversially defeated. At first, the petitioner had won with 8,804 votes against Mubangizi’s 7,998 votes. The EC had declared the winner but things changed after a controversial recount, which saw Mubangizi win with 7,908 votes against the aggrieved Tumwesigye’s 7,504 votes.
In Kayunga, NRM’s Jackline Birungi Kobusingye has petitioned challenging the election victory of Harriet Nakwedde (NUP), accusing her of fraud. Coming in the 3rd position, Birungi polled 15,790 votes against Nakwedde’s 20,753 and Ida Nantaba, the long-serving woman MP, was 2nd with 16,138 votes. Birungi, whose father is tycoon Moses Karangwa, first challenged Nakwedde’s win by seeking vote recount except that her application was rejected by the Magistrate.
Brenda Nabukenya’s future as Luwero Woman MP too is going to be uncertain after NRM’s Agnes Kirabo filed a petition challenging her victory. She is demanding fresh elections on grounds that her win was fraudulently hijacked.
Minsa Kabanda of Kampala Central isn’t safe as NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya finalizes his petition. Senior Museveni cadre Susan Kushaba, who was a candidate, has expressed readiness to be one of Rubongoya’s star witnesses. She heads markets and generally the informal sector in the PLU universe. The same applies to Nakawa East’s Fred Ruhindi whose victory is being challenged by NUP’s Alex Waisswa Mufumbiro who is certain to win the subsequent by-election in this opposition stronghold.
This could cost Ruhindi the opportunity to bounce back as Cabinet Minister as Gen Museveni tends to avoid ruling party MPs with election petitions hovering over their heads. Similarly, the Rubongoya petition could complicate things for Minsa Kabanda.
Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu is determined to make NRM’s Madina Nsereko regret the day she was born. NUP’s David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga isn’t safe as Busujju County MP after old man Vincent Nyanzi of NRM refusing to denounce his right to petition. His winning margin wasn’t that big after all.
NRM’s Fred Munyirwa is challenging Moses Walyomu’s victory as the MP for Kagoma County. In Butembe County, FDC’s Grace Wanjara Kiirya’s win is being challenged by NRM’s Jacob Kabondo.
NUP’s Esther Nakawooya is determined to destroy NRM’s Sarah Najjuma who she considers to be an imposter on the position of Nakaseke Woman MP, which she has been occupying since 2016 when she inherited it from Rose Namayanja, the founding area Woman MP who defied Museveni and opted not to seek reelection.
Nakawooya, formerly a poverty-stricken news reporter at Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga’s Top Radio, was allocated 26,873 votes as Najjuma was declared with 55,455 votes.
Nakawooya says there was falsification of results and that her votes were merely switched and given to Najjuma. She is disputing what the Returning Officer Aida Tumusiime allocated to Najjuma at 98 out of the 328 polling stations making up the Nakaseke electoral area. She is demanding fresh elections.
It’s equally going to be hard time for lawyer Justine Nameere (NRM) whose controversial installation as Masaka City Woman MP is being challenged by NUP’s Rose Nalubowa Musajjaakawa who says her win was hijacked and stolen in broad day light. EC originally declared Nalubowa with 25,443 votes as Nameere trailed with 20,334 votes.
The NRM candidate, very belligerent as always, was granted recount powers by a Magistrate who fearlessly presided over a recount for three days which culminated into Nameere’s controversial win. The results changed and Nameere ended up winning with 25,502 votes as Nalubowa was made to trail with mere 23,176 votes.
The controversial turn of events has since culminated into widespread resentful sentiments amongst community members towards Nameere who, even if she wins the Court case, will predictably not have a good time leading people who vastly dislike her. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
