Nadduli wins poll petition
Oct 22, 2006
FORMER Luweero LC5 chairman Hajji Abdul Nadduli on Friday won an election petition he filed before the High Court. Nadduli’s petition was challenging the election of Ronald Ndaula as the Luweero district chairman over lack of qualification.
By Edward Anyoli
FORMER Luweero LC5 chairman Hajji Abdul Nadduli on Friday won an election petition he filed before the High Court. Nadduli’s petition was challenging the election of Ronald Ndaula as the Luweero district chairman over lack of qualification.
High Court Justice Stella Arach Amoko ordered the seat to be declared vacant and fresh election conducted after court found out that Ndaula was not qualified.
She also ordered Ndaula, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to pay the cost of the petition.
Arach said Ndaula was unlawfully nominated by the EC and blamed the NCHE for not properly verifying his academic papers.
She said NCHE ignored to consult the Uganda national Examination Board yet the law required it to do so.
Arach ruled, “I am more than satisfied that this election was not conducted in accordance with the law.â€
She said Ndaula's degree in Public Administration, which he obtained from Rochville University in only five days, could not be accepted.
Rochville is an online university in the US where individuals study without sitting for examinations, but are awarded diplomas and degrees based on life experience.
Arach said Ndaula was never subjected to any examination, did not attend any lecture or take a coursework but was awarded a degree, which she referred to as a bicupuli (forged) degree.
She said the degree is not equivalent to a S.6 certificate, and yet for a degree in Uganda, an individual is required to attend university for at least three years.
Nadduli sued Ndaula jointly with EC and NCHE.
Both Ndaula and Nadduli were not in court as Arach delivered her judgment.
Meanwhile Frederick Kiwanuka reports that Ndaula has said he is going to appeal the ruling.
“Definitely I am not satisfied. I have already directed my lawyers to file an appeal by Monday (today),†Ndaula said on Saturday.
Arach ordered fresh nominations for Ndaula's seat after ruling that his academic papers were not equivalent to the minimum required S.6 certificate.
FORMER Luweero LC5 chairman Hajji Abdul Nadduli on Friday won an election petition he filed before the High Court. Nadduli’s petition was challenging the election of Ronald Ndaula as the Luweero district chairman over lack of qualification.
High Court Justice Stella Arach Amoko ordered the seat to be declared vacant and fresh election conducted after court found out that Ndaula was not qualified.
She also ordered Ndaula, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to pay the cost of the petition.
Arach said Ndaula was unlawfully nominated by the EC and blamed the NCHE for not properly verifying his academic papers.
She said NCHE ignored to consult the Uganda national Examination Board yet the law required it to do so.
Arach ruled, “I am more than satisfied that this election was not conducted in accordance with the law.â€
She said Ndaula's degree in Public Administration, which he obtained from Rochville University in only five days, could not be accepted.
Rochville is an online university in the US where individuals study without sitting for examinations, but are awarded diplomas and degrees based on life experience.
Arach said Ndaula was never subjected to any examination, did not attend any lecture or take a coursework but was awarded a degree, which she referred to as a bicupuli (forged) degree.
She said the degree is not equivalent to a S.6 certificate, and yet for a degree in Uganda, an individual is required to attend university for at least three years.
Nadduli sued Ndaula jointly with EC and NCHE.
Both Ndaula and Nadduli were not in court as Arach delivered her judgment.
Meanwhile Frederick Kiwanuka reports that Ndaula has said he is going to appeal the ruling.
“Definitely I am not satisfied. I have already directed my lawyers to file an appeal by Monday (today),†Ndaula said on Saturday.
Arach ordered fresh nominations for Ndaula's seat after ruling that his academic papers were not equivalent to the minimum required S.6 certificate.