Reported by Elijah Igo
The High Court of Uganda sitting at Mpigi has for a second time thrown out an election petition filed by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) Betty Sentamu seeking to nullify the election of National Resistance Movement (NRM) Sylvia Nayebale as the Woman Member of Parliament representing Gomaba District.
In August 2021, the then presiding Judge Honorable Richard Wejuli Wabwire had struck out the same petition on technicalities of failing to pay the requisite court fees. Betty Sentamu, however appealed to the Court of Appeal successfully which resulted in the Court of Appeal ordering that her petition be heard on merits.
In her petition, Sentamu alleged that the number of votes declared by the Electoral Commission did not match the results on the declaration forms. In the latest judgement judgment, Sentamu’s hopes were cut short when the new judge allocated the file held that after expunging the supporting evidence contained in the un-certified declaration form of results, there was no evidence left on the court record to support Sentamu’s allegations of voter bribery, multiple voting, ballot stuffing and other electoral offenses. It remains to be seen whether Betty Sentamu will file another appeal in the Court of Appeal.
