Court to rule on Opendi's election petition on July 28

Judgment for an election petition filed against Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament Sarah Opendi Achieng is slated for July 28, 2016

High court Judge in Mbale, Lady Justice Magaret Wokuri Oumo announced on Tuesday after submissions by lawyers representing the parties in the case.

The runner up in the Tororo District Woman Parliamentary elections, Jacinta Ayo (NRM) petitioned court, contesting  Opendi's victory.

Electoral Commission declared Sarah Opendi Achieng winner of the Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament elections with 62,215 votes against 59,806 obtained by Jacinta Ayo also runner up.

The petition filed in court through Lawyers Oscar Kahika enlists Opendi and Electoral Commission as defendants in the matter.

The petitioner states that the February 18, 2016 Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament elections that attracted a total of 6 candidates , contravened the constitution, electoral commission act cap 140 and  parliamentary elections act of 2005.

"The Returning Officer willfully omitted to include in the final tally 1705 votes that had been garnered by the petitioner," stated the petition.

In a cross examination during hearing of the case, Ayo had enumerated the alleged irregularities.

"My lord, while I obtained 449 votes at Rochwa polling station, the returning officer recorded zero," testified Ayo.

Lawyers Jamil Mujulizi, Rajab Alinaitwe, Alice Nayebare, are representing state minister for primary health care in the case.