Lira Court halts Moroto vote recount

By Bonney Odongo & Joseph Ekol Ekol

Hundreds of residents of Moroto County in Alebtong district on Thursday thronged Lira magistrate Court to protest the early morning ruling to have the votes that threw out Minister Rebecca Otengo recounted.

An application was made at Lira Court by State Minister for Northern Uganda, Rebecca Otengo challenging the February 18th elections in which she lost to Samuel Okwir Odwee, according to Electoral Commission announcement.  

Voters from Moroto county in Alebtong district crying out side Lira Magistrate Court in favor of Sammuel Okwir Odwee who was declared winner in Moroto MP polls.

The supporters, who trekked from Alebtong district, camped at the gate of Lira Magistrate Court right from 8:00am in the morning chanting Sammuel Okwir Odwee's name and vowing to do anything to ensure the success of their candidate is upheld.

When they saw the ballot boxes were being transported to Lira magistrate court for recount, many supporters started crying loudly, saying they had been stuffed from an unknown place in favor of Minister Otengo.

The vote recount was however halted following an interim order of injunction tendered in court by Okwir's lawyers, Mike Abwang Otim and Isaac Okae.

Police blocking Sammuel Okwir and his lawyer Mike Abwang Otim from accessing the court of Thursday. By Bonney Odongo

The lawyers also appealed before the High Court against a decision by the Magistrate Court to have the votes recounted.

Lira Chief Magistrate Alex Mushabe said the vote recount could not take place because of the interim injunction and the appeal tendered before the High Court by the defendant's lawyers.

In addition he said the complainant (Rebecca Otengo)'s lawyer was not available in court during the proceedings.

Otengo, when asked to say something, said she had already discussed with her lawyer and resolved that the votes be recounted.

She added that due to the time factor and the commitment she has, the court should go ahead to recount the votes.

Voters from Moroto county in Alebtong district crying out side Lira Magistrate Court in favor of Sammuel Okwir Odwee who was declared winner in Moroto MP polls.

But the Chief Magistrate assured her that the issue was of a very high importance and would be expedited.     

"I want to assure you that this matter is very important and the High Court will handle it without delay, and we can even stall other cases to have this particular one concluded within the shortest time possible," he said.

After the court stayed the vote recount, the rowdy supporters carried Okwir shoulder-high and marched with him on the street to his home in Odokomit in Lira town.

The court was attended by two observers from the European Union, Minister Counsel Dickson Ogwang Okul from uganda's Embassy in Washington DC and many supporters of both candidates.