The high court in Gulu this morning dismissed a petition against Prof Ogenga Latigo, the Agago North County Member of Parliament.
Prof Latigo was dragged to court together with the Electoral Commission (EC) by his rival, John Amos Okot, the former MP for Agago Constituency challenging his(Latigo’s) election victory on grounds of voters’ bribery, defamation and non- compliance with Parliamentary election laws.
Justice David Matovu, the Mbarara resident High Court judge who listened to parliamentary election petitions in the Acholi sub region dismissed the allegations against Latigo on grounds that all the people that claimed to have been bribed by Latigo failed to prove that they are registered voters.
In his petition filed before Gulu High Court on March 29, Okot alleged that Prof Latigo bribed voters, costing him victory.
Mr Okot who defeated Ogenga- Latigo in the 2011 election, prayed for court to nullify Prof Latigo’s win.
A total of 25 witnesses were lined up against Prof Latigo who is also a former Leader of Opposition in the 8th Parliament.
In his ruling, Justice Matovu said the petition failed to prove its case against Latigo.
Justice Matovu said none of the witnesses attached documents such as photocopy of national ID or voter location slip to convince court that they were voters.
The judge added that the video clip in which Okot alleged that Latigo made a defamatory statements during campaigns where not filed in court making it difficult to prove the case.
Justice Matovu contented that Latigo was validly elected to represent the people of Agago North.
Geoffrey Komakech, one of Latigo’s lawyers said they knew from day one that they client would win the case.
On his part, Latigo told the press that Okot failed to listen to the judge’s advice.
Latigo says he is deeply offended by the court case and said he will recover a total cost of the petition.
Prof Latigo, who won the seat on the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party ticket, was sued by his rival, Okot (NRM), the former MP for Agago.
Prof Latigo won the poll with 14,079 votes to become the first Member of Parliament for the newly created Agago North constituency. His challenger, Okot polled 10,420 votes.
