Bunya South MP, Iddi Isabirye Dragged Out Of Parliament, Set For Fresh Election.

The High Court in Jinja Friday declared the Bunya South Parliamentary seat in Mayuge District vacant after nullifying the January 14 parliamentary election of the incumbent, Mr Iddi Isabirye.

The now successful election petition challenging the victory of the NRM’s Mr Isabirye was filed by the runner-up of the vote, Independent candidate, Robert Ntende. Mr Ntende through his lawyers, Jude Byamukama and Ivan Wanume challenged the results that were published in the Uganda gazette for being inaccurate and therefore null.

The team claimed that the results of ten polling stations especially in Malong Sub-county were marred ith several irregularities. His agents were chased and others beaten- so they did not witness the exercise.

The plaintiff also claimed that his agents were harassed to facilitate ballot stuffing adding that he’d have won the election if the affected polling stations were excluded from the tally sheet. Mr Ntende presented a video recording to court showing Mr Isabirye giving some of his supporters Shs400,000 to coarse them into sabotaging the efforts of his prime opponent, the plaintiff.

The Presiding judge, Lady Justice Susan Abinyo said: “The respondent committed illegal practises of bribery and giving donations during election campaigns.This election be set aside and a fresh election be organised,’’ she ruled.

Justice Abinyo therefore, declared that a fresh election should be organized and also ordered the Electoral Commission and Mr. Isabirye to pay Mr. Ntende all the costs he has incurred in this case. Through his lawyers, Mr. Evans Ochieng, the defendant said he is going to appeal against the judgment of the High Court.

“I want to encourage my supporters to be firm because the victory was handed over to me by you people because the will of the people cannot be disputed,’’ he said.

Seven Candidates contested on this seat including Isabirye Iddi who garnered 19,833 votes and Mr.Ntende got 14,364 votes.