The Electoral Commission in a response to Sulaiman Kidandala’s election petition seeking to overturn the victory of Kawempe North MP-elect Muhammad Ssegirinya, has said the latter was duly and lawful nominated for the recently concluded MP elections.
Ssegirinya who won the elections on the National Unity Platform (NUP), was dragged to court by Sulaiman Kindandala (independent) on allegations of forged academic documents and incompetent qualifications to run for the race.
In his election petition, Kindandala sought court redress to nullify Ssegirinya’s election citing that he lacked a valid and authentic Ordinary and Advanced Level qualifications, the requisite for one to contest for parliamentary elections.
In a letter dated March 17, 2021, Peter Anywar, writing on behalf of the executive secretary UNEB Dan Odongo, noted: “We have checked in our records and our findings are as follows; Candidate U005/054(2017) is Nampiima Sarah who sat at Mengo secondary school, not Ssegirinya Richard sitting at Pimbas secondary school,” he noted.”
The Electoral commission in their response to Kidandala on Friday said he (Kidandala) is not entitled to any of the reliefs sought because Ssegirinya’s nomination and election was conducted in compliance with the provisions and principles laid down in the Electoral Laws of Uganda.
According to the affidavit of Barbra Mulimira, the Returning Officer of Kampala Electoral District; at the time of nomination, Ssegirinya presented a duly filled nomination form accompanied by academic qualifications of UCE(Senior 4) and UACE ( Senior 6) both in the names of “Ssegirinya Richard” from Pimbas Secondary School and a Deed Poll for changing of names from “Ssegirinya Richard” to “Ssegirinya Muhammad”.
“The nomination, Election and gazetting of Ssegirinya by the Electoral Commission as MP Kawempe North Constituency in Kampala was done in accordance with the law having found him possessing the minimum qualification of Advanced Level and duly registered as a voter and fulfilment of other nomination requirements,”the returning officer noted.
Mulimira contends that Segirinya was lawfully and validly nominated, elected, declared and gazetted as winner of the said Election having been found dully academically qualified and obtaining the highest number of votes cast.
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