Ex-media center boss sues EC over registration

COURT|POLITICS|REGISTRATION

KAMPALA - Fred Opolot, the former Executive Director of Media Center, has sued the Electoral Commission for declining to register him as a voter for Amuuria village in Serere district, where he resides.

Opolot seeks to be transferred as a registered voter from Cell I Village, Kamod Parish, Bugondo Sub-county, to Amuuria Village, Pingire Sub-county in Serere district. Opolot is contesting for Pingire County MP under National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.

"I am a patriotic and responsible citizen willing to exercise my voting rights in my village of Amuuria district," says Opolot.  

Opolot contends that he approached EC office to process the transfer of his voter details to his village but was advised to secure a court order, to allow EC to implement the same.

The applicant filed the suit against EC at the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala, Thursday (October 1, 2020).

Through IIukor Advocates and Solicitors, the applicant says he is a resident of Amuuria village under the newly created Pingire county/constituency in Serere district.  

Court documents indicate that Kasilo County was split by Government/Parliament in July 2020 to create Pingire County and was approved by Cabinet as a newly created county in Serere.

"In order to achieve my political party aspirations as Pingire County NRM flag bearer and be able to participate in the forth-coming national elections, there is a need for EC to transfer my national voter details to Amuuria village in Pingire Parish," he states.

In his affidavit, Opolot says he is a NRM member and flag bearer for MP 2021-2026 for Pingire County in Serere district.

"It is just and equitable that this application be allowed in the interest of justice as I stand disenfranchised by the creation of the new Pingire Constituency without my national voter details being changed," he contends.

The applicant also wants the court to compel EC to pay him costs of the application if he wins the case.