Gulu high court has summoned the district returning officer for cross-examination in a petition case which challenges the election of Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah as Member of Parliament for Omoro County in Gulu district.
Oulanyah’s election is being challenged by his opponent in the February parliamentary elections, Simon Toolit Akecha of the Forum for Democratic Party (FDC).
On Monday morning, Gulu High Court Judge, Justice David Matovu ordered electoral commissioner lawyer Peter Mulongo to present immediately before the court the Electoral Commission’s(EC), Gulu’s Returning Officer, Benson Obete.
This was after Me Akecha’s lawyers, Kwemara Kafuzi and Deo Kizito of Rwakafuzi & Co Advocates told court that they want to cross examine the Returning Officer.
EC lawyer Peter Mulongo was given five minutes to produce the Returning Officer but he returned without Mr Obete who he[Mulongo] said is currently in Kampala.
The judge ordered that Mr Obete must appear before court on 25, May 2016 for cross examination.
EC lawyer Mulongo and Oulanyah’s, Edmon Wakida of Lex Uganda Advocates told court that they are not interested in cross -examining any witnesses.
Simon Toolit Akecha is challenging Oulanyah’s re-election on grounds that there was voter intimidation and bribery.
In 2011, Simon Toolit Akecha also petition court after he lost to Oulanyah. But his petition was dismissed for lack of evidence.
