The credibility of the Mawogola County parliamentary election results is under scrutiny at the Masaka High Court, where former National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Goreth Namugga presented declaration of results forms that she alleges contained irregularities.
Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, who is presiding over the petition, directed the Electoral Commission to prepare its defence against allegations of irregularities in the January 15 general elections, including claims of military interference and questionable declaration of results forms.
Namugga is challenging the victory of her National Resistance Movement (NRM) rival, Oswald Dezi Byuma, who was declared winner with 25,781 votes against her 4,857 votes.
Through her lawyers, Evans Ocheng and Caleb Alaka, Namugga presented 20 declaration of results forms bearing the signatures of presiding officers but not those of polling agents, despite the candidates having deployed agents to the respective polling stations.
She also presented another 30 incomplete declaration of results forms bearing signatures only of polling agents representing Byuma, with no signatures from agents of other candidates.
Namugga further questioned the validity of results forms from 45 other polling stations, alleging that some polling agents’ signatures had been forged and that the recorded votes exceeded the number of registered voters.
She also alleges that the election was marred by violence and military interference, and that results forms were completed at some polling stations where voting had not taken place.
Byuma, who was cross-examined by Namugga’s lawyers over his affidavit defending the election outcome, told the court that he had deployed two polling agents at each of the 95 polling stations in the constituency.
However, he said he could not confirm whether all the agents had reported to their assigned stations.
He argued that some agents might have left polling stations shortly after voting and consequently failed to sign the declaration of results forms.
He maintained that the absence of their signatures did not, by itself, invalidate the results.Byuma also told the court that the Electoral Commission declared him the winner based on results transmitted through declaration of results forms obtained from presiding officers. He said he considered the forms credible because they also reflected the votes obtained by other candidates.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Byuma dismissed the petition, maintaining that the election results reflected the will of voters in Mawogola County.
Meanwhile, Haruna Ssewaya, the lawyer representing the Electoral Commission, told the court that the commission intends to call its Principal Legal Officer, Enoch Atugoonza, as a key witness to defend the election results.
Justice Kania adjourned the hearing to Friday this week, when the court is expected to hear testimony from witnesses for the respondents.
In her submissions, Namugga asked the court to reprimand anyone found responsible for colluding to commit electoral offences, arguing that such action would deter similar malpractice in future elections.
By URN
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