The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
By Julius Odeke
The Public Relations Officer for Electoral Commission, Charles Ochola says his office is ready to organize for any by-elections provided the clerk to parliament writes to Electoral Commission informing them of any vacant seat in parliament.
Ochola told Independent on a telephone interview that, “We have just heard the information that the woman MP for Luwero district lost her seat following a court ruling; however we need a communication from parliament so that we shall organize for a by-election.”
He says that, “We shall seat down as a team to draft a timetable, when informed by the clerk to parliament that there is a vacant post that needs to be filled.”
The High Court judge Vincent Zehurikirize on Thursday last week threw the Luweero district Woman Member of Parliament Brenda Nabukenya out of Parliament over massive election rigging and bribery.
The judge therefore ordered for fresh elections to be conducted in Luwero district whereby voters shall elect the district woman representative. The Electoral Commission is faced with a challenge of organising fresh elections.
The case arose from a petition by Nabukenya’s rival, Rebecca Nalwanga from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, who lost the by-election in November 2011. Nalwanga, accused Nabukenya of bribing voters.
Nabukenya scooped a staggering 14,945 votes against Nalwanga’s 14,915 out of 340 polling stations in the central District. FDC’s Ziada Gwokyalya scored a paltry 3775 votes, according to results that were released by district returning officer Peter Kasozi.
The Democratic Party (DP) president Norbert Mao says they will rally behind their candidate and to ensure that she wins the vote on that date that will be set by the Electoral Commission.
DP initially had 13 Members of parliament, however, given the fact that Nabukenya has lost her seat then DP has 12 seats in the house.
