MP NIWAGABA RETAINS NDORWA EAST SEAT AFTER COURT DISMISSES BEGUMISA’S ELECTION PETITION

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale—

High Court in Kabale on Monday dismissed the election petition filed by the Dr. Protazio Begumisa against the Ndorwa East Member of Parliament Wilfred Niwagaba.

Begumisa, who was the NRM flag bearer garnered 15, 826 votes during the January parliamentary elections, losing narrowly to independent candidate Niwagaba who managed 15,962 votes.

Through his lawyers of Muhangi Justus and Partners’ Advocates, he petitioned high court seeking nullification of Niwagaba’s victory on grounds of vote rigging, vote bribery and harassing his agents.

Begumisa also claimed in court that Niwagaba connived with police officers who had been deployed in Ndorwa East to rig his victory.

But in his judgement, Justice Odoki dismissed Begumisa’s petition with costs stating that he (did not make out any case for his prayer that a vote recount should be ordered.

Odoki also noted that the petitioner failed to prove to the satisfaction of the court all the grounds of the petition and Begumisa did not provide cogent evidence of harassment, violence and intimidation during the voting day.

While speaking to our reporter after the judgment Begumisa confirmed to have received a copy of the judgment not in his favor but did not add more.

However, Niwagaba who is also the Shadow attorney generals said that he is happy about the court decision but also as a trained advocate, he knew that he would win the case because he got the majority votes with no irregularity.

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