Katuntu's opponent appeals court ruling

NRM's Daniel Ibaale has appealed against a court ruling that declared Abdul Katuntu the duly elected Member of Parliament for Bugweri County in Iganga district.

Ibaale, who lost to incumbent Katuntu in the February polls, sued Katuntu and the Electoral Commission at the Jinja High Court, alleging electoral malpractices.

He is arguing that during campaigns, Katuntu made false allegations against him including claims that he (Ibaale) did not have a residence in Bugweri and was therefore not suitable to be entrusted with leadership. Ibaale says such rhetoric affected his reputation among the voters.

In her ruling this week, Justice Margaret Mutonyi dismissed the petition, saying the petitioner failed to present enough evidence to convince court.

She consequently ordered the Electoral Commission and petitioner to pay costs of the suit.

But Ibaale's lawyer Hassan Kamba told New Vision that on Wednesday, he filed a complaint at the Court of Appeal on orders of his client.

"We have appealed because we don't agree with the judgment. Our client brought substantial evidence of electoral offences but the trial judge disregarded some affidavits of the petitioner," he said.

Katuntu was represented in the suit by Medard Lubega Ssegona and Erias Lukwago.

Katuntu, who was the FDC flag bearer in the February 2016 polls for the position, defeated Ibaale - his closest rival - by a margin of 401 votes.

The area MP since 2001, Katuntu got 23,596 votes against Ibaale's 23,195 votes.