Igara East by-election date set

BY-ELECTION | IGARA EAST

The Electoral Commission has released a roadmap for the by-elections of the Igara East parliamentary seat.

According to the guidelines released by the commission on Wednesday, the election date has been set for December 14, with the candidates’ nomination and registration dates set for November 23.

 Supporters welcome Maranga after the court ruling

The Court of Appeal early this month nullified the election of Andrew Martial as MP for Igara East, after former area MP Michael Mawanda Maranga petitioned the results, citing bribery and defamation during the campaigns.

Mawanda, who contested as an independent to regain his seat after losing in the primaries in last year’s elections, had been MP for the area for one term.

 Maranga supporters

But he was defeated by Andrew Martial (NRM), after polling 15,091 votes to Martial’s 15,983 in a close contest.

However, he contested the results, citing irregularities in the voting, tallying and announcing of results.

He lost the petition at the Mbarara High Court, but appealed the decision of the High Court.

Early this month, a panel of three judges led by Deputy Chief Justice, Prof. Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, ruled that Martial bribed voters contrary to Section 61 (1) of the Parliamentary Act.

 Maranga supporters

Owiny-Dollo, who was assisted by Fredrick Egonda Ntende and Richard Butera also found Martial guilty of having commited the offence of making false statements concerning the character of a candidate, which is against Section  73 (1) of the same act and ordered a fresh poll.

 Andrew Martial (left) greeting Maranga after the court session

Martial, who won under the NRM flag, had been to Parliament for  19 months and will again contest among other six candidates, including Mawanda, who have shown interest in the seat.

After winning the petition, Mawanda was last weekend given a heroic welcome back from court, by his supporters in the constituency.