The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Otim was early this month nominated by the NRM party to compete with Charles Ocaya for the party’s flag. However, Ocaya petitioned the NRM party electoral commission challenging the nomination of Otim citing it was unlawful since he didn’t possess the minimum academic qualification for a parliamentary nominee.
In his August 12 petition, Ocaya highlights that Otim failed the 2003 A’ level National Examinations from Gulu Hall examination and thus never qualified for award of certificates, yet the same result was used to have him nominated.
“This is to inform your office that Mr Otim Bosmic sat A’level national examination in the year 2003 and 2019 from Gulu Central Adult Learning Centre (Commonly called Gulu Hall), respectively and failed completely to get results that qualifies him for the award of Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education [UACE]” Ocaya’s petition reads in Parts.
Otim’s 2003 A-level results show thag he obtained a subsidiary pass in General Paper, failed History and Christian Religious Education and never sat for the Economics paper.
Equally, his 2019 UACE result from Gulu Hall Centre indicate that he scored F9 in General paper, F in History, F in CRE, F in Arts and X in Computer Science.
Ocaya reasoned that for a candidate to be one of parliamentary nominees, he or she must possess an A-level certificate as enshrined in Article 80 (1) c of the 1995 constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
He demanded that the Electoral Commission withdraws Otim from the Chua West parliamentary race since his nomination was a breach of the party’s and country’s constitution.
But the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi explains that Ocaya’s petition was dismissed on grounds that the respondent was lawfully nominated.
The commission sitting on August 21 and August 24 at the commissions head office office resolved that Bosmic held requisite academic qualifications to be nominated as MP.
“After listening to both sides, the commission decided under Min NRM EC 009/2020 to uphold the decision to nominate Mr Bosmic Otim for the position of NRM MEMBER OF parliament Chua West Kitgum District. This was on ground that he possesses the requisite academic qualification required to be nominated as required by the Law” Dr Odoi’s letter reads.
Ocaya has however contested the Commissions decision to uphold Otim’s nomination saying the party is likely is likely to lose the seat if this irregular nomination is upheld.
Kitgum district went through a similar situation in 2016 election when LC5 NRM flag bearer Bob Williams Labeja, was blocked from nomination of the national eElectoral Commission for lack of required academic documents.
Otim who had earlier intended to contest for Gulu West parliamentary seat before shifting to Chua West cited witch hunt among some party members behind the petition to have him barred from the race.
If he happens to win, Otim will tussle out with the incumbent Chua West MP Philip Okin Ojara, an outspoken Forum for Democratic candidate.
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