Four more MPs lose seats

Four Members of Parliament, Rt. Col. Charles Okello Engola (Oyam North), Nathan Nabeta (Jinja Municipality West), Rehema Watongola, (Kamuli Municipality) and Annet Nyaketcho (Tororo North) have lost their seats after High Court on Tuesday nullified their victory in the 2016 parliamentary elections.

This now brings the number of those who have been thrown out of the house to 11. Others include; Vincent Wembwoya (Budadiri East), Lucy Aciro Otim (Aruu North), Lawrence Akugizibwe (Mwenge North).

Rt. Col. Engola is the new state minister of defence. He was thrown out over sufficient academic papers.

Lady Justice Jessica Naiga ruled that the alterations in the minister's academic documents invalidated his qualifications.

The court found name discrepancies in Engola's academic papers.  His academic papers had the name ‘Charles Peter Okello Engola' while during campaigns the name presented to the Electoral Commission was Charles Okello Macodwogo.

The court ruled that Col. Engola should have sworn an affidavit indicating why he changed his names.

In Jinja, the High Court annulled the election of Rehema Watongola, the Kamuli Municipality MP after former Kamuli District chairperson Salaamu Musumba challenged petitioned court. In her petition, Musumba alleged that Watongola lacked requisite academic qualifications to contest for the MP seat.

The court found out that the documents Watongola used for nominations which were from Busoga University, were obtained fraudulently. Results released by the Electoral Commission indicated Watongola polled  8,175 against Musumba's 6,702 votes.

The High court in Mbale also nullified the Tororo North Parliamentary elections and the NRM Candidate Annet Nyaketcho lost her seat after Forum for Democratic Change Geoffrey Ekanya appealed.