High court orders for fresh LCI elections in Lungujja parish

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  The High Court has overturned the election of Ali Kyambadde as the LCI Chairperson of Sendawula Zone, Lungujja Parish in Rubaga Division.

Justice Lydia Mugambe of Civil Division on Monday ruled that the elections conducted in Sendawula Zone in July 2018 were disrupted by chaos, commotion resulting in unfair elections.

She noted that the declaration forms had been tampered with and besides, the election had not been concluded due to irregularities. 

Mugambe overturned the April judgement delivered by Mengo Grade One Magistrate Allan Nyakaana which had declared Kyambadde as the winner of the elections. 

On July 10th 2018, when the elections of the Local Councils were being conducted across the country, Sendawula Zone didn’t complete its voting exercise due to chaos and commotion.

As a result, one of the contestants, Kasule Semugenze, 71 filed a complaint to the Electoral Commission. 

The Commission then ordered that the elections be repeated on July 26th 2018.

However, before the process could commence afresh, Kyambadde went to Mengo Magistrates Court and secured an interim injunction stopping the Electoral Commission from conducting the fresh elections.   Later, in April 2019 Mengo court ruled in his favour and ordered that the Electoral Commission pay Kyambadde costs of the suit.

However, his rival Kasule petitioned the High Court seeking for a review of the decision by the magistrate’s court.

Kyambadde who was not in court was ordered to pay costs to EC. 

The residents who were at court have welcomed the verdict saying that it was long overdue.

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URN