Pallisa LC5 seat vacant
Feb 04, 2007
THE people of Pallisa will have to go to the polls again to elect the LC5 chairperson.
By Hillary Nsambu
THE people of Pallisa will have to go to the polls again to elect the LC5 chairperson.
This follows the Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday that nullified the election of Bob Wasugirya.
The Electoral Commission had declared Wasugirya, who contested on an NRM card, the winner of the March elections.
However, Issa Bantalib Taligola, who stood as an independent candidate, petitioned the High Court complaining that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct the exercise in accordance with the electoral laws.
Taligola, a former controversial Makerere University guild president, also alleged that Wasugirya was personally responsible for numerous electoral malpractices like threatening voters.
However, the High Court in Mbale dismissed Taligola’s petition prompting him to move to the Court of Appeal.
Justices Galdino Okello, Alice Mpagi-Bahigeine and Stephen Engwau agreed that the election was marred by electoral offences that affected the results substantially.
“There is overwhelming evidence to show that a large number of Taligola’s supporters and voters at various polling stations were denied their right to vote by Wasugirya or by his agents with his full knowledge and consent or approval,†Justice Engwau, who wrote the lead judgment, said.
He also said there was overwhelming proof that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct free and fair elections.
“The UPDF, gombolola internal security officers and the yellow brigade intimidated, tortured, arrested, harassed and even chased away the appellant’s supporters during the campaign period and on the polling day,†the judge ruled.
The court also noted that there was falsification and alteration of results. Wasugirya was ordered to meet the costs of appeal.
THE people of Pallisa will have to go to the polls again to elect the LC5 chairperson.
This follows the Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday that nullified the election of Bob Wasugirya.
The Electoral Commission had declared Wasugirya, who contested on an NRM card, the winner of the March elections.
However, Issa Bantalib Taligola, who stood as an independent candidate, petitioned the High Court complaining that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct the exercise in accordance with the electoral laws.
Taligola, a former controversial Makerere University guild president, also alleged that Wasugirya was personally responsible for numerous electoral malpractices like threatening voters.
However, the High Court in Mbale dismissed Taligola’s petition prompting him to move to the Court of Appeal.
Justices Galdino Okello, Alice Mpagi-Bahigeine and Stephen Engwau agreed that the election was marred by electoral offences that affected the results substantially.
“There is overwhelming evidence to show that a large number of Taligola’s supporters and voters at various polling stations were denied their right to vote by Wasugirya or by his agents with his full knowledge and consent or approval,†Justice Engwau, who wrote the lead judgment, said.
He also said there was overwhelming proof that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct free and fair elections.
“The UPDF, gombolola internal security officers and the yellow brigade intimidated, tortured, arrested, harassed and even chased away the appellant’s supporters during the campaign period and on the polling day,†the judge ruled.
The court also noted that there was falsification and alteration of results. Wasugirya was ordered to meet the costs of appeal.