MP Loses Seat Over Salt, Soap Bribery

BUTEBO county MP Dr Stephen Malinga has lost his seat for bribing voters with salt and soap on the eve of the parliamentary elections on June 26 last year, reports Nasur Wambedde.Malinga (pictured) becomes the second parliamentarian in the Seventh Parliament to lose his seat for election fraud. Malinga has been the MP for Butebo county since 1996. He said he would appeal the ruling.Igara East MP Richard Nduuhura, also state minister for industry, lost his seat in September for voting twice. But he won the seat again in a bye-election.The High Court in Mbale yesterday nullified Malinga’s election, saying he bribed voters. It also declared the seat vacant and ordered Malinga to pay costs to petitioners Rodoi Mutono and James Okanya who were in court.Justice Deo Maniraguha said Malinga personally distributed salt and soap to the voters on the eve of the elections to induce them to vote for him. “I am satisfied by evidence brought before me that campaign agents of Hon. Malinga and himself committed bribery contrary to the parliamentary election Act,” said the judge.The petitioners’ lawyer, Robert Okalang, said Malinga was free to appeal, adding, “The victory will still be in our favour.”Malinga bought a full truckload of soap and salt at Kakor trading centre in Butebo county, which he distributed to the voters, two of his agents told court.Okanya said, “The people of Butebo will have a fair chance of representation.”After the ruling, Mutono’s supporters accompanied him to his residence in Mbale senior quarters under heavy security.Ends