Kibale election petition judgment set for April 20th

By Joseph Baguma and Priscillar Nyamahunge

Masindi High Court judge Justice Albert Rugadya Atwooki has set 20th April 2016 as the date for the ruling of the election petition case that was filed by Godfrey Muwonge Kasanga of Buyanja County in Kibaale district against the Electoral Commission.

Kasanga filed a petition at High Court in Masindi on 22nd February accusing the Electoral Commission of canceling his candidature one day to the elections from the list of the candidates who were contesting for the Buyanja MP race.

Kasanga who stood as an independent candidate, contested with four others including finance minister and incumbent MP Matia Kasaija (NRM), Christopher Mivule (FDC), Vicent Irumba and Resty Birungi both independents.

Kasaija won the elections.

The district returning officer Kibale District, Eric Jimmei, canceled Kasanga's candidature on grounds that he had forged Robert Byenkya's signature a resident of Kyaruswiga village in Nyamarunda Sub County in Kibaale district as one of his seconders.

On Tuesday morning, Kasanga's supporters  from Kibale district, led by his lawyer Tumusiime Irumba, stormed High Court Masindi eager to hear the judgment of the case only to be informed by the judge that he couldn't pass it due to unavoidable circumstances.

Justice Rugadya told court that, "due to circumstances beyond my control including losing relatives, I cannot pass the judgment today."