Court declines to grant orders blocking Rwampara NRM flag bearer’s nomination

The High Court in Mbarara on October 09 dismissed an application intended to halt the nomination of Molly Asiimwe as the NRM flag bearer for Rwampara District Woman MP in the 2021 parliamentary election.

Annah Kansiime had petitioned High Court nullify Ms Asiimwe’s victory as NRM Woman MP Flag Bearer for Rwampara district in the recently concluded party primaries claiming that it was marred by irregularities.

In September, Rwampara District NRM Registrar Richard Asiimwe declared Annah Kansiime as the NRM Woman MP flag bearer.

Official results indicated that Kansiime had garnered 20,019 votes against Molly Asiimwe’s 17,343 votes.

But days later, NRM Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Dr Fred Tanga Odoi overturned Kansiime’s victory.

Dr Tanga Odoi declared Asiimwe the winner with 17,808 votes against Kansiime’s 16,566 votes.

Dissatisfied, Kansiimwe went to court.

And, presided over by Deputy registrar Samuel Twakira, Mbarara High Court dismissed Kansiime’s application that had sought the halting of the nomination of Asiimwe by the Electoral commission.

Parliamentary nominations are scheduled for October 15 and 16.

Twakira ruled that Kansiime had not adduced substantial evidence.

He further asked Kansiime to allow court proceed with the main suit challenging the results.

MINISTER MOLLY KAMUKAMA LOSES

Relatedly, High Court in Mbarara, presided over by Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma, also dismissed a petition filed by State Minister for Economic Monitoring Molly Kamukama seeking to halt the nomination of Janepher Muheesi as Kazo District NRM Woman MP Flag bearer.

Justice Kavuma ruled that the evidence the petitioner brought to court was too weak to warrant the granting of orders blocking Muheesi’s nomination.

Dr Tanga Odoi declared Jenipher Abaho Muheesi as the winner of the election with 16,802 votes against Minister Kamukama’s 16,715 votes.