Vote Recount Ordered In Igara East

Bushenyi Chief Magistrate Deo Nzeimana yesterday ordered for the recount of Igara East constituency votes, reports Raynel Kanyambu. He said the recount starts at 9:00am today and asked each of the parties to bring 10 agents to witness the exercise at the court premises. Nzeimana gave the ruling at 4:50pm in the presence of all the parties involved in the case, save for Dr. Richard Nduhura, the winner of the June 26 parliamentary elections. Nduhura was represented by his lawyer. Both parties had earlier told the press that they would agree with whatever comes out of the ruling. They also consented on the recounting day and time. Lt. (rtd) Spencer Patrick Turwomwe, a former parliamentary candidate for Igara East in Bushenyi district, had applied for a recount of votes in Kyeizoba sub-county following reports of massive rigging. He also petitioned the Electoral Commission to cancel the results of the presumed winner, alleging he had voted at two polling stations. Turwomwe, a former national security head of Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye's presidential task force, told the press that the double voting case was criminal and would be pursued. Ngaruye Ruhindi and Caleb Alaka represented Turwomwe while returning officer Johnson Bitarabeho and Richard Nduhura were the first and second respondents. Turwomwe polled 12,692 votes against Nduhura's 13,370. His lawyers said some of the 12 annextures of votes could not tally with both the declaration results forms and the final tally sheets. They said at some polling stations in Kyeizoba, the presiding officers signed and submitted unsealed declaration result forms. Ends