APPEALED: NUP Kibale Candidate Who Was Disqaulified By EC Dashes To Court

BY ROBERT KAMUKAMA

KIBALE, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| The National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary candidate who was disqualified from the Kibale MP seat has gone to court.

NUP President who is today campaigning in Kumi said his team of legal professionals were handling the matter. He described the move as ridiculous. Other NUP supporters alleged that Kakuru was perhaps bribed by opponents to withdraw the signatures

Gibson Amanya was disqualified after some of the nominees withdrew their signatures saying they were gathered in error.

Kamwenge District Returning Officer George William Magezi withdrew Amanya’s nomination for the race.

This was after a resident of Kankarara village in Kamwenge town council, Charles Kakuru, petitioned the EC, claiming that his signature to second Amanya’s nomination for the Kibale County parliamentary seat on the National Unity Platform (NUP) card party was obtained through misrepresentation of facts.

“Kakuru’s signature was obtained through misrepresentation of facts since he was informed that the endorsement was for a candidate seeking nomination on a National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket,” read a letter dated November 4.

The letter was signed by the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi and copied to Kamwenge district returning officer, as well as Amanya.

Byabakama stated that the commission held a meeting on October 30, where Amanya acknowledged that the names and signatures for his seconders were obtained by his agents, who did not disclose to him that they were obtained after misrepresentation of the party he stood for. According to Byabakama, Amanya did not comply with section II(I) (a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

“The decision of the returning officer Kamwenge to nominate Gibson Amanya is hereby reversed,” read Byabakama’s letter. On Wednesday, the returning officer declared Cuthbert Abigaba Mirembe (NRM) unopposed for the Kibale county parliamentary seat.