NUP Nakaseke woman MP candidate Nakawooya’s petition puts NRM in panic

LUWERO——On Wednesday the High Court in Luwero declared that the lawyer in the election petition filed by former Nakaseke District Woman MP candidate Esther Nakawooya (NUP) may rely solely on written submissions minus calling witnesses for cross-examination.

In her petition, Esther Nakawooya alleges election irregularities, malpractices and collusion between the Electoral Commission and the NRM candidate Sarah Najjuma to doctor and alter results that were far different from what was cast at the polling stations. Najjuma was declared the winner at gunpoint after influencing the Nakaseke District returning officer who altered votes in her favor and declared that she obtained 56,151 votes against Nakawooya’s 28,995 votes.

On the polling day, the NUP candidate Nakawooya had led across all polling stations but the NRM candidate and the military opted to rig in their favor, by altering results manually on the declaration forms.

The orthogonally is being entertained by Justice Vincent Emmy Mugabo who approved an agreement between the parties to have their case determined on the basis of documentary evidence and written arguments as opposed to physical appearances.

Kenneth Paul Kakande, the lawyer representing Nakawooya informed court that the preliminary stages of the case had concluded that the parties had agreed on the facts and issues for determination.

He says the parties agreed on two major issues; whether there was noncompliance with the Parliamentary Elections Act in the conduct of the Nakaseke woman MP polls, and if do, whether the alleged noncompliance affected the results.

The second issue concerns the remedies available to the parties in having the matter resolved.