Balikuddembe asks Justice Byabakama to reprimand Mutamba together with her juniors for presiding over outright irregularities that manifested in the local government polls.
Joseph
Balikuddembe, the National Unity Platform-NUP candidate for the Lwengo LC V
chairperson’s seat has petitioned the Electoral Commission protesting the
conduct of the presiding officials deployed in the area.
Balikuddembe
lost to the National Resistance Movement-NRM candidate, Ibrahim Kitatta. In his
petition to the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Byabakama, Balikuddembe
protests what he describes the as unbecoming conduct of the electoral officials
in Lwengo district.
He faults Marble Mutamba, the Lwengo District Returning
Officer of bias, saying that she connived with the NRM candidate to falsify
results in the just concluded local government polls and deliberately declined
to listen to their complaints during the vote tallying process.
He also accuses the Returning Officer of allowing armed
security operatives into the tally center, who he says messed up the process in favour of the NRM candidate. Balikuddembe asks Justice Byabakama to reprimand
Mutamba together with her juniors for presiding over outright irregularities
that manifested in the local government polls.
//Cue in:
“Kyetwagala okusaba…..
Cue out; ……nga bangi.”//
According to the Electoral Commission declaration of results forms,
Balikuddembe lost to Ibrahim Kittata who polled 24,821 votes against 18,614
votes. Emmanuel Mwesigwa came third with 2,807 votes followed by Christopher
Ssensalire who scored 2,146 votes and Shadick Mutebi emerged last with 730
votes.
Balikuddembe argues that the results are not the true reflection
of the people’s will, arguing that he has gathered substantial evidence, which
he will present in court to challenge the election results.
//Cue
in: “Sigenda kusirika….
Cue out; ……tuleete ezafe.”//
Marble Mutamba, the Lwengo District Returning Officer has described the
allegation labelled against her as baseless. She, however, says the candidate has
a right to petition the Electoral Commission Chairperson as long as there is
evidence. Ibrahim Kitatta, who was declared winner of the Lwengo L.CV polls,
says his opponent is free to seek legal redress if at all he has any grievance
with the process.
//Cue in; “ffe tuyimiriddewo kun kola….
Cue out: …..emilamwa
egy’okwekulakunya.”//
Section 15 of the Electoral Commission Act, gives the commission powers to
resolve complaints submitted in writing in regard to any irregularity of any
aspect of the electoral process. The same Act allows the Commission to take the
necessary action to correct the irregularity and any effect it may have caused.
