NRM's Nyakecho retains Tororo North seat

Jun 12, 2017

Her election was nullified on grounds that it was not conducted in compliance with the Parliamentary Elections Act

Annet Nyakecho (C) celebrates with her supporters outside court after the ruling was made in her favour. Photo by Michael Odeng

The Court of Appeal has re-instated National Resistance Movement (NRM's) Annet Nyakecho as the validly elected Member of Parliament for Tororo North Constituency.

This comes after a panel of three Justices including the Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma on Monday allowed her appeal against the decision of Mbale High Court Judge Patricia Wasswa Basaza which had nullified her election on grounds that it was not conducted in compliance with the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005.

Basaza found that such non-compliance with the act substantially affected the outcome of the said election.

"The learned trial Judge's decision that the returning officer should have retrieved the declaration of results forms from the ballot boxes and used them for the tally of votes was unjustified," the justices of Court of Appeal ruled.

According to the justices, Basaza ignored the imperative of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process in the constituency which the returning officer was rightly concerned with and informed his decision to reject the results.

Other Justices were Paul Mugamba and Alfonso Owiny-Dollo. Their ruling was read to the parties in the presence of their lawyers by the Court of Appeal deputy registrar Deo Nzeyimana.

Nyakecho was filled with joy and excitement after the court ruling.  She said God has finally answered her prayers by overturning the lower court's ruling.

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