Court Throws Out Aruu North Member Member of Parliament

Justice David Matovu, the Mbarara resident High Court judge  this morning annulled the election of Lucy Aciro Otim, the newly-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Aruu North Constituency in Pader district citing noncompliance with the election laws.

The ruling means fresh elections will have to be organised in Aruu North unless Aciro wins on appeal.

In a December 2 petition before Gulu High Court, James Kidega Nabison, accused his Aciro and the EC of connivance to strip him of victory.

Kidega was the candidate for the National Resistance Movement(NRM) party while Aciro run on an independent ticket.

Through his lawyers Ladwar, Oneka & Company Advocates, Kidega stated that he  was  not satisfied with the electoral commission on how it conducted the parliamentary elections in Aruu.

Justice Matovu ruled that because the Election Commission (EC) did not comply with the laws, the result of the election was substantially affected.

The judge also noted that destruction of voting shortly before a vote recount for the Aruu North seat made it impossible to call for a recount.

Justice Matovu fined the EC for noncompliance with the law and ordered them to meet half the cost of Mr Kidega’s legals costs. But the judge said he found no evidence that Aciro was engaged in election malpractice.

Jude Ogik, one of the lawyers representing Kidega welcomed the ruling but said they were not happy that the court did not order Aciro to pay his client damages.

Samuel Odonga- Odonga Otto, the lawyer for Aciro said they are surprised with the court decision. Otto said he will consult his client (Aciro) on the next course of action.

Kidega lost to Lucy Achiro, an independent, in the February 18 Parliamentary election by only two votes. Kidega polled 8,577 votes, while Achiro garnered 8,579 votes.