Justice David Matovu, the High Court judge hearing election petitions in Acholi sub region has set June 8 as date for ruling inthe election petition case filed against Jacob Oulanyah, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Justice Matovu set the date on Wednesday after hearing the last witness in petition brought against Oulanyah who is also Omoro Member of Parliament in Gulu district.
The last witness was Benson Obete, the Gulu District Returning Officer for the Electoral Commission (EC).
The judge ordered the lawyers for the Election Commission (EC), Oulanyah and Simon Toolit Akecha, the petitioner to file their written submissions at the Gulu High Court before the date for ruling.
In March, Akecha filed a petition in the Gulu High Court seeking to nullify the election of Jacob Oulanyah citing election rigging.
Toolit, a member of the Forum for Democratic Change served as Omoro County MP until 2006 when he was defeated by Oulanyah.
Toolit’s lawyer, Charles Dalton Opwonya of Opwonya & Co. Advocates said his client will not be satisfied with the results until fresh elections are held.
He also wants the Electoral Commission (EC) be charged with election irregularities that led to ballot box stuffing, voter intimidation and the absence of transparency in the voting process.
Toolit said he has evidence to prove that the entire process was rigged in favor of Oulanyah, who contested for the Omoro County elections under the banner of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Toolit himself was not in court as he was been reported [to police] missing by his family. Oulanyah was also not in court, neither were his lawyers.
