New affidavits challenging Aloysius Mukasa’s seat are accepted by the court.

Lawyers for Eugene Nassolo, who is challenging Aloysius Mukasa’s election as Lubaga South MP, have presented additional evidence to the High Court in Kampala. The lawyers led by Caleb Alaka, Sam Muyizzi, and Kenneth Paul Kakande asked the court today, Tuesday, August 24th, to allow them to file new evidence in the form of five additional affidavits to support the petition challenging Mukasa’s election, but Mukasa’s lawyers objected, claiming that the move would prejudice their case.

However, Lady Justice Dr. Winfred Nabisinde, in her judgement, stated that there is no indication that filling out the supplementary affidavits would have an impact on the case.

“At this point in time, neither the respondents nor the court are aware of the contents of the affidavits in question, which means the court cannot simply dismiss them on the basis that they are introducing new grounds,” Nabisinde stated. When arguing with Nassolo’s lawyers, the judge chastised Mukasa’s legal team for just talking about the new evidence prejudiceing the case without offering any examples, stating that the fears are only theoretical.

“For the sake of the case, the court cannot determine whether they (petitioner) are introducing new grounds or producing grounds that are already in the petition until the additional affidavits are admitted on record.”

The judge was quick to assuage Mukasa’s lawyers’ anxieties, noting that if fresh reasons were added in the supplementary affidavits, the law would take precedence and the matter would be deleted from the court records upon application. She accepted the five more affidavits and told Nassolo’s lawyers to serve them on Mukasa’s lawyers so they could respond.
The case was continued by Lady Justice Dr. Winfred Nabisinde to Monday, August 30, 2021.

Petition

Eugene Nassolo, the runner-up in the Lubaga South constituency votes on January 14, disputed Aloysius Mukasa’s victory, alleging that he paid voters with facemasks, soap, sugar, and matooke, as well as lacking the required academic certificates to run for Parliament.