The MP is aggrieved by the ruling of Soroti City boundaries that put Aloet and Opiyai wards to Soroti City West Division. According to Ariko, the two wards were in Soroti City East Division but erroneously annexed to Soroti West Division, something that caused him victory.
Petition by Herbert Edmund Ariko.
Soroti
Municipality MP, Herbert Edmund Ariko has petitioned High Court over the
Soroti City
boundaries. Ariko, who lost his bid to represent Soroti City East Division in
Parliament to Moses Okia Attan attributes his loss to alteration of Soroti City
boundaries.
He wants the Judgement and Orders of Soroti High Court Judge, Justice Wilson
Masalu Musene dated November 26 2020 reviewed and set aside.
Ariko also wants the High Court to nullify and set aside all actions
taken in pursuit of the ruling and orders in the same suit.
Ariko is aggrieved by the ruling of Soroti City boundaries that annexed
Aloet and
Opiyai wards to Soroti City West Division. According to Ariko, the two wards
were in Soroti City East Division but erroneously annexed to Soroti West
Division, which he claims cost him victory.
In November, Justice Musene reverted Aloet, Arapai, Orwadai and Opiyai
wards from Soroti City East to Soroti City West. Justice Musene, in his ruling,
said that the wards were erroneously included in Soroti City East Division by
the Local Government Minister, Raphael Magezi.
The ruling by Justice Musene was delivered after it emerged that some
politicians allegedly altered the boundaries to serve their political
interests. The judge also awarded costs to the plaintiffs who include Michael
Enyagu Etadu, Robert Onanyang, Stephen Erienyu, Patrick Ejelu and Brian
Omoding.
But
Ariko, through his lawyers, Alaka and Company Advocates contends that
the two wards were his strongholds that should have delivered him victory in
the January 14th polls.
“That
the two parishes being the Applicants strongholds were traversed by the
Applicant who also built robust campaign structure in the said parishes”, reads
part of Ariko’s petition.
Ariko notes in his petition that the declaration of Aloet and Opiyai being in
Soroti City West deprived him of his constitutional, legal and civic right to
be voted by his supporters in Aloet and Opiyai and as consequence, denied
citizens of the two wards the right to choose their leaders as desired by
government contrary to Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of
Uganda.
Ariko also claims that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear
the matter
being an electoral related complaint, lacked requisite legal and statutory
authority to demarcate electoral areas, didn’t take into consideration the
gazette notice issued by Minister of Local Government among others.
Court
has set February 24th to hear the matter in Soroti.
According to the ruling by Justice Musene, Soroti City East Division comprises
eleven wards that include Akisim, Central, Kengere, Moruapesur, Kichinjaji,
Camp Swahili, Madera, Pioneer, Otatai, Acetgwen, and Opuyo wards while Soroti
City West Division has 14 wards including Aloet, Arapai, Nakatunya,
Oderai/Majengo, Pamba, Senior Quarters, Agora, Amen A and B, Agora, Amoru,
Oderai, Opiyai and Orwadai wards.
Bureau Chief, Soroti
Living the Pen