The High Court in Mbale has ordered fresh elections for the Agule Parliamentary seat in Paliisa District, following a petition by David Ochwa against Polycarp Ogwari.
Ochwa petitioned the court to nullify the election of Ogwari’s election on grounds of bribery and intimidation.
The Electoral Commission declared Ogwari, an Independent candidate as the winner with 7,190 votes followed by Ochwa who stood on the National Resistance Movement-NRM party ticket and obtained 6,908 votes.
However, dissatisfied with the results, Ochwa petitioned the Mbale High Court seeking to nullify the victory of Ogwari on grounds that his election was not done in accordance with the electoral laws because of bribery and intimidation.
High Court Judge Dr. Andrew Bashaija dismissed the case on grounds that the affidavit in support of the petition sworn by James Nadhongha was invalid and incompetent since the Commissioner of Oaths whom he had sworn the affidavit in support of the petition did not possess a valid practicing certificate at the time.
However, Ochwa decided to challenge the High Court decision in the Court of Appeal. In April, the Court of Appeal ordered for fresh hearing of the election petition.
On Thursday, Justice Kazibwe ruled that the court was satisfied with the evidence that was presented by Ochwa. Justice Kazibwe noted that Ogwari and the Electoral Commission failed to follow the electoral procedures.
“The elections were characterized by intimidation and bribery, and the electoral commission, was aware but kept silent and failed to act in accordance to the electoral laws,” Kazibwe ruled.
Kazibwe ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections in Augule County.
