Politics
Judgment in Tororo Municipality election petition set for October 30
The court, presided over by Justice Irene Barebe, closed the hearing of evidence on Thursday (October 1) after three days of proceedings and subsequently set October 30, 2026, for judgment.
Tanna won the January parliamentary elections with 5,781 votes, defeating incumbent Apollo Yeri Ofwono, who polled 4,829 votes. (File photo)
By: Faustine Odeke, Journalist @New Vision
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The High Court in Tororo has set October 30, 2026, for the delivery of judgment in an electoral petition challenging the election of Tororo Municipality MP Shyam Jay Tanna.
Tanna won the January parliamentary elections with 5,781 votes, defeating incumbent Apollo Yeri Ofwono, who polled 4,829 votes.
Ofwono, a National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, challenged Tanna's victory, alleging electoral malpractices including violence, intimidation and bribery.
The court, presided over by Justice Irene Barebe, closed the hearing of evidence on Thursday (October 1) after three days of proceedings and subsequently set October 30, 2026, for judgment.
On the third and final day of the hearing, the court spent much of the morning and afternoon listening to the cross-examination of witnesses for the first and second respondents.
Among those cross-examined by Yeri's lawyers were Tanna, the first respondent, and his witness, Epaku Henry, also known as Kange.
On the third and final day of the hearing, the court spent much of the morning and afternoon listening to the cross-examination of witnesses for the first and second respondents.
Among those cross-examined by Yeri's lawyers were Tanna, the first respondent, and his witness, Epaku Henry, also known as Kange.
The court also heard the cross-examination of witnesses for the Electoral Commission, the second respondent in the petition.
They included Robert Twikirize, the Tororo district returning officer who handled the previous election, and Hellen Athieno, the presiding officer in charge of Kyamwinula polling station A-M, which was allegedly affected by electoral violence on polling day.
At the close of the hearing, Justice Barebe thanked the legal teams representing all the parties, as well as political supporters, the media and well-wishers, for exhibiting high levels of discipline during the proceedings.
Tanna is the son of Sanjay Tanna, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and former Tororo Member of Parliament, who lost to Ofwono in the previous election.
Tanna and Ofwono have been involved in a long-running political rivalry over the leadership of Tororo Municipality.
They included Robert Twikirize, the Tororo district returning officer who handled the previous election, and Hellen Athieno, the presiding officer in charge of Kyamwinula polling station A-M, which was allegedly affected by electoral violence on polling day.
At the close of the hearing, Justice Barebe thanked the legal teams representing all the parties, as well as political supporters, the media and well-wishers, for exhibiting high levels of discipline during the proceedings.
Tanna is the son of Sanjay Tanna, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and former Tororo Member of Parliament, who lost to Ofwono in the previous election.
Tanna and Ofwono have been involved in a long-running political rivalry over the leadership of Tororo Municipality.