By Patrick Ebong
Dokolo North Member of Parliament Paul Amoru Omiat (NRM) was Thursday thrown out of parliament by High Court in Lira over noncompliance with parliamentary electoral laws, bribery and declaration of votes from eight polling stations not signed by the presiding officer.
Mr Amoru becomes the Amoru 14th Member of Parliament and 13th NRM MP to be kicked out of the 10th parliament.
Court presided over by Justice Wilson Musene Musalo said Paul Amoru Omiat was engaged in election malpractices in the run up to the February 18 elections.
On one occasion, on February 14, court heard that Amoru gave 15 bags of cement at a mass in Apeti Catholic Church and asked the congregation to vote for him on February 18.
Court also heard that Declaration of Results Forms from eight polling stations were not signed by the presiding officers contrary to the electoral laws.
Mr Amoru was not in court when the judge was reading his ruling. His opponent, JB Okello Okello, the petitioner who however attended court. In an interview after the ruling, Okello- Okello said ‘‘justice’’ had been served to the people of Dokolo North.
Meanwhile High Court in Lira adjourned the petition challenging the academic papers of the woman Member of Parliament for Alebtong district Achen Christine to July 20. Elizabeth Abongo who contested under Forum for Democratic Change FDC and lost to Achen in the February polls wants court to nullify Achen’s victory for not having the minimum A- level academic requirement for one to contest for a parliamentary seat.
The throwing out of Paul Amoru from parliament comes barely a fortnight after Col. Rtd Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo of NRM ,the MP of Oyam North and Minister of State for Defence was also thrown out by the same court for not having the requisite academic papers expected of a member of parliament.
