Kampala, Uganda: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Election Disputes Tribunal has nullified the declaration of Patrick Kayemba as the duly elected NRM flag bearer for Kigulu South Constituency and ordered a fresh election in 14 polling stations.
The tribunal, sitting at Kyadondo on Saturday, ruled that the preliminary results, which had placed Kayemba in the lead with 7,095 votes, were tainted by irregularities, including forgery of declaration forms. His closest rivals Yusuf Kyafu Ntulume (6,657 votes) and AbdulRahim Sebukaire alias Kyangha (6,608 votes), successfully petitioned against his victory.
The affected villages where fresh polls will be conducted include Bunyiro Central, Bupala, Buwande, Buwenda, Lwelera, Nakalama Central, Busei Central, Buluza, Kiboyo, Nakilulwe, Busei “B”, Buwolomera “B”, Bukoyo, and Nkaziwelu.
However, these results were contested by Ntulume and Kyangha, resulting in the filing of a petition to the NRM election disputes tribunal seeking to nullify the results, citing forgery of declaration of results forms in some villages.
The complainants, in their petition, asked the tribunal to set aside the election and declaration of Mr. Kayemba Patrick as the validly elected NRM flag bearer for Kigulu South constituency, citing election irregularities like intimidations and disruptions at various polling stations on the poll day.
“The petition is hereby allowed in respect to setting aside the election and declaration of Mr. Kayemba Patrick as the validly elected NRM flag bearer for Kigulu South constituency,” the petition reads in part.
The tribunal also ordered the relevant party organs to investigate Iganga NRM registrar Mr. Yazid Kirunda and Patrick Kayemba for the alleged forgery of the Final Declaration of Results form.
“The respondent, together with the district Registrar, Mr. Kirunda Yazid, be investigated by the relevant party organs for forgery of the final Declaration of Results form,” the petition adds.
It should be remembered that Kirunda was recently arrested and arraigned in court for forging declaration of results forms in the NRM primaries for MP Kigulu South, which were not genuine. He was also charged with presenting those fake forms to the NRM electoral commission.
Kirunda’s arrest and prosecution followed an alleged unilateral declaration of Kayemba Patrick as the winner of the Kigulu South NRM primaries for MP, despite pending disputes from several polling stations. He was, however, granted bail and is currently relieved of his duties.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
