Court rejects eight witnesses in petition against Nantaba

In the second election case filed contesting the win of Idah Erios Nantaba, the Kayunga District Woman Member of Parliament, the High Court in Mukono on Monday dismissed eight witnesses and four additional affidavits.

During the hearing of a lawsuit brought by Harriet Nakwede, 44, one of the three persons challenging Nantaba’s win, Justice Olive Kazaare Mukwaya dismissed the witnesses and affidavits. Former competitor Jackeline Birungi and concerned citizen Rita Nabadda are the others.

After Nantaba’s lawyer Ambrose Tibyasa cross-examined Nakwede, Justice Mukwaya dismissed the witnesses. All eight witnesses and additional affidavits provided, Nakwede informed the court, lacked convincing evidence to back her assertions in the petition.

On election day, the eight saw electoral violations at several voting sites, according to Nakwede. The court was shocked, however, that the witnesses failed to attach their national identity cards or specify their polling places.

Benedicto Kyobe, Rogers Lubowa, Isma Mugabe, Elizabeth Nalwoza, Experito Musoke, Umar Kabenge, Abel Kato, and Hussein were among the witnesses that appeared in court. They were unable to confirm that they were registered voters in Kayunga district, according to Tibyasa.

In her appeal, Nakwede stated that at several polling locations, the number of registered voters was less than the number of votes cast. She mentioned the Light College SS voting station, where the total number of votes cast was 33 less than the actual number of voters, and other polling stations where votes were greater than the total number of voters.

The case was postponed till August 30 for additional hearings by Justice Mukwaya. The court will also hear Rita Nabadda’s third petition against Nataba on the same day.