The election of Betty Bamukwatsa Muzanira, as the new Rukungiri woman Member of Parliament is being challenged in High Court by her opponent, former MP Winifred Komuhangi Matsiko.
The ruling National Resistance Movement- NRM party candidate who lost the seat to Muzanira during a by-election held on May 31 says the exercise was marred with irregularities and hooliganism orchestrated by members of the opposition. Muzanira was an FDC candidate.
The loser accuses the victor of using abusive language and hate-speech during campaign rallies when she deliberately told constituents that the petitioner is a thief who does not qualify to be re-elected into parliament. "I want them to prove to the court that am a thief and that I stole elections.
They even say that I had over 10,000 pre-ticketed ballot papers during May 31st 2018 by-elections," Matsiko says in a petition filed in Kabale High court. She further argues that her supporters were intimidated during the exercise. "My supporters could not withstand the intimidation by FDC and some did not vote for me because they were told I am a thief," she said.
The by-election came about after Matsiko lost a petition in the Court of Appeal. The petition had been filed by Muzanira.
Didas Muhumuza the Kabale High Court Registrar has confirmed receipt of Matsiko's petition on Thursday and that the date for the hearing will soon be set. However, Muzanira says she is ready for the court battle. In her initial petition in 2016, Muzanira, argued that the 2016 campaign was marred with voter bribery.
