Bungokho South poll petition hearing for July 5

PIC: Ben Martin Wanda (left) is challenging the election of rival Michael Werikhe Kafabusa

MBALE - Hearing of an election petition filed against Bungokho South MP Michael Werikhe Kafabusa will take place over two days - starting July 5.

Mbale High Court judge Justice Magaret Wokuri Oumo made the pronouncement on Thursday at the end of the conferencing session in her chambers.

Werikhe, who is also state minister for trade, was represented by his lawyers Geoffrey Oduku and Evans Ochieng.

The petitioner is Ben Martin Wanda who finished second in the February parliamentary election.

He is contesting the outcome of the poll, saying the election exercise was marred with many instances of non-compliance of the statutory provisions.

Represented by Rwakafuzi Kwemanzi in court, Wanda in his petition states in part that the election was "marred with, among others, ballot stuffing, multiple voting, manipulation and falsification of the results on the declaration of results [DR] forms."

Lawyers Nasser Serunjogo and Joseph Kyazze are representing the Electoral Commission.

Wanda is also saying that there were irregularities at many polling stations, including Bumboi Church of Uganda, Bunamwani Church of Uganda, Nabisolo Primary School, and more.

"Agents of Electoral Commission awarded votes obtained by the petitioner to the defendant [Werikhe]," states the petition further, among several other issues.