IGANGA, UGANDA: The High Court in Iganga has dismissed with costs, a petition challenging the election of Bukooli South constituency Member of Parliament Hon Adidwa Abdu alias Dozer.
Mayende Stephen Dede, the former member of Parliament Bukooli South constituency in Namutumba district petitioned the court demanding the annulment of Adidwa’s victory on grounds of lacking minimum academic qualifications to contest for the MP seat as deemed necessary according to parliamentary election laws.
According to the petition, Mayende led by his lawyer Kiiza Moses Magero of Kiiza and company Advocates accused Adidwa of lacking academic credentials to stand as a member of Parliament.
However, in a ruling on Tuesday, Judge of the high court Namundi Godfrey dismissed the petition due to lack of substantial evidence to prove the allegations against Adidwa. According to Namundi, the petitioner failed to tell the court where he got evidence pinning the respondent for not having academic credentials.
Court also ruled that the petition failed on several procedural grounds after it was established that Mayende did not convince the Court that he made any statutory oaths since most of his documents were not properly commissioned as required.
According to High Court judge Namundi, Mayende had enough time to correct the inconsistencies but failed to utilize his time appropriately.
After the court ruling, Mayende’s lawyer Kiiza Moses Magero noted that the judge wasn’t fair since he is granted by law to call the magistrate who commissioned the affidavits to prove if they are genuine. He also said that in case a petitioner presents substantial evidence against the respondent like they did for academic qualifications, it’s the respondent to defend himself by presenting his papers which he did not do in his defence but only presented the deed poll.
However, Mayende Stephen [petitioner] didn’t agree with court ruling citing that some judges have continuously mishandled cases under their jurisdiction hence turning courts to be horrible places instead of dens for justice. Mayende said that he is going to appeal citing that only qualified people are meant to represent people in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Hon Adidwa Abdu welcomed the Court ruling and urged his rival to accept the Court decision and let Bukooli South constituency flourish under his representation.
Upon hearing good news from the court room, supporters of Hon Adidwa led by his coordinator in the constituency Nakaziba Hasifah and that of Namayingo town council Eranda Salim, proceeded with jubilations and commended Court for what they termed as just ruling.
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