By Job Bwire & Petrina Kyobutungi
The FDC party has expressed its intention to sue the Electoral Commission boss over the manner in which its members were treated in the recent Butaleja by-election.
NRM flag-bearer Florence Andiru won the district woman seat following the death her sister Cerinah Nebanda in December.
Now the opposition party is crying foul over the recently concluded by-election for a seat that had fallen vacant for about two months.
The FDC youth leader, Francis Mwijukye said the party has instructed its lawyers Katuntu and Company Advocates to file the suit this week.
He was speaking to the press on behalf of party spokesperson Wafula Oguttu at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
The opposition party wants the electoral body chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu to explain why some members of the party were not accredited to observe the by-elections, subsequently leading to their arrest.
He pointed out Ingrid Turinawe, Sam Mugumya, Michael Kabaziguruka and himself as those arrested during the polls.
“When our [FDC] electoral commissioner Dan Mugarura wrote a letter to Kiggundu asking why he did not accredit some members of the party, Kiggundu did not reply.
“We have therefore given him [Kiggundu] up to the end of this week to reply our letter and also explain the circumstances under which our members were arrested,” Mwijukye said.
FDC deems Kiggundu’s actions were discriminatory and therefore call for a new electoral commission to be named before the 2016 general elections.
The youth leader said FDC as a party is not satisfied with the results of the by-election, saying they were allegedly marred with irregularities.
They are awaiting a report from their candidate Felista Namwihiri before they can decide whether to petition against the results or not.
The party – headed by Mugisha Muntu – is yet to renew its struggle against Kiggundu’s continued stay in office, Mwijukye said.
Voters in Butaleja on February 11 went to the polls to elect their woman district representative.
About ten FDC members, including the party’s vice-president, Salaamu Musumba, were reportedly arrested for allegedly dishing out items to the electorate.
