The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Lydia Wanyoto Mutende has lost the appeal challenging the victory of her rival, Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, the Mbale city woman member of parliament. Wanyoto ran against Nakayenze in the January 2021 polls and lost with an overwhelming margin. She polled 25,276 votes against 40,729 garnered by Nakayenze.
She protested the poll results and petitioned Mbale High court alleging electoral malpractice including among others intimidating presiding officers and tampering with the result declaration forms. Wanyoto asked the High court to nullify the election results and order for re-election.
However, Justice Andrew Bashaija dismissed the petition with costs on grounds that the applicant had failed to prove her claims warranting the nullification of the poll results. Dissatisfied with the High court decision, Wanyoto through her lawyers filed a notice of appeal on September 30th, 2021, and lodged a Memorandum of Appeal on October 28th October 2021, to include additional evidence.
However, by the time Wanyoto filed her Memorandum of Appeal, it was late since rules 30 and 31 of the Parliamentary Elections Interim Rules provide for filing an appeal within seven days from the date of judgment. Wanyoto told the court that she was delayed by the failure of the court to avail her and her lawyer’s record of proceedings of the High Court to enable her to draft the Appeal.
She claimed that she only accessed the proceedings on October 27th, 2021. “That without a judgment and record, Wanyoto had no basis on which to base her criticism of the trial court,” argued Wanyoto’s lawyer. Wanyoto applied to amend her Memorandum of Appeal and validation of the same. The court granted her permission to amend the Memorandum of Appeal.
However, a panel of three Justices comprising Elizabeth Musoke, Christopher Madrama, and Eva Luswata have dismissed the appeal, stating that by filing the application, Wanyoto and her Counsel conceded that both her Memorandum and record of appeal were filed out of time.
“We have rejected her application to validate both proceedings or allow an extension for them to be filed out of time. In essence, there is no valid appeal before this court,” reads the judgment from the court of appeal. The panel hence struck off the appeal with no orders as to costs.
Galiwango who now retains her seat was in jubilation following the court decision. She says that Wanyoto will have to pay costs as directed by the lower court.
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