DP wants Kalungu EC returning officer withdrawn

(L-R) Joseph Sewungu looks on as DP president Norbert Mao addresses the media at the press conference at the party headquarters in Kampala. Photo by Nancy Nanyonga

As the Democratic Party (DP) awaits the polling date for the Kalungu District LC5 chairperson to be set by the Electoral Commission (EC), the party wants the district's returning officer Jacqueline Mburamuhindo withdrawn. 

According to DP's president, Norbert Mao, the party does not want Mburamuhindo to conduct the forthcoming by-election on grounds that she failed to honour the electoral laws by fraudulently announcing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM)'s Richard Kyabaggu as the elected district chairperson. 

He said Mburamuhindo's failure to read out the results aloud at the district during the declaration of results and failure to avail DP's Emmanuel Musoke with certified copies of the declarations was rather questionable and against the electoral laws thus calling for her withdrawal from Kalungu. 

"Mburamuhindo must be removed, we are writing to the Electoral Commission because Justice Gidudu ruled in his judgement that she is the one who altered the results and that is why the EC is being penalized to pay costs by the court," Mao said. 

"As one of our demands as a party we want her to leave Kalungu otherwise we might assist the EC by escorting her back to the headquarters," he added. 

Mao made these remarks during the weekly press briefing at the party headquarters at City House in Kampala today. 

DP's flagbearer Musoke who was also the incumbent dragged Kyabaggu and the Electoral Commission to court citing irregularities in the elections where Kyabaggu emerged winner. 

In August 2016, the Masaka High Court Judge Gidudu ruled that DP's Musoke was denied victory by the national electoral body which declared his rival Kyabaggu as winner after finding that declaration of results forms in four polling stations of Kulamaga, Kitawuluzi, Yesu Akwagala and Bugomola were falsified. 

Gidudu in his ruling ordered for a by-election, which Musoke challenged in the Court of Appeal seeking to be declared winner instead. 

In another ruling last month, the three judges of the Court of Appeal, Steven Kavuma, Elizabeth Musoke and Paul Mugamba declined to declare Musoke as the Kalungu District LC5 Chairperson stating that the authenticity of the declaration forms on which court would have based to declare Musoke as winner are questionable since they were not certified and therefore ordered the Electoral Commission to organize fresh elections. 

Mao also revealed that the party intends to maintain Musoke as the flag bearer because he has all it takes to transform Kalungu into a better district. 

"Musoke has been vital, he moved the district from nowhere, unfortunately there are those who do not care about the district," Mao asserted.