Court of Appeal rules MP Cissy Namujju duly elected

Lwengo Woman MP Cissy Namujju will retain her seat in Uganda’s 10th Parliament after the Court of Appeal  on Tuesday overturned a High Court’s decision that had nullified her election.

Three justices led  by Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma unanimously ruled that NRM’s Namujju  was  validly elected as the Lwengo district woman Member of Parliament (MP)and that she holds the requisite academic qualifications.

The Court of Appeal held that the  PLE, UCE and UACE certificates brought before court  belong to Namujju since they bear the same  photograph that also appears on her National Identification card.

The justices also faulted Masaka High Court judge Margret Tibulya for disregarding the provision of  the law that requires a voter  to accompany his petition with 500 signatures of registered voters from the constituency  to challenge an MP’s election.

The Court of Appeal says it evaluated evidence  from  Masaka High Court and found out that  Namujju’s accuser  Martin Kizito Sserwanga filed his petition with only 460 signatures.

The court of Appeal  has now ordered Ssemwanga to pay her costs both at the lower court and Court of Appeal.

****

editor@independent.co.ug