Parties in an election petition for Bukomansimbi North Constituency have been advised to settle their petition out of court.
The advice was sounded by Lady Justice Keturah Katunguuka, during the hearing of the election petition filed by the former area MP and National Resistance Movement flag bearer Ruth Katushabe challenging the election of Christine Ndiwalana Nandagire, the National Unity Platform-NUP ticket and eventual winner.
Katushabe alleges that there were glaring inconstancies in the respondent’s academic papers.
Katushabe’s petition indicates that the respondent uses different names on the academic papers that she presented for nominations, which raises suspicions about her true identity.
Nandagire is also accused of committing other election malpractices that include among others, voter bribery while organizing football tournaments during campaigns, as well as buying alcohol for voters on the polling day.
However, when both parties appeared to commence hearing of the petition on Tuesday at Masaka High Court, Katushabe through her lawyer Kandeebe Ntabirweki applied to the court, to make amendments in the petition in which they withdrew allegations of bribery against the respondent.
The lawyer told court that they wished to concentrate on the first ground which according to them gives a lot of merit to the petition above the others.
But, when granting permission to amend the petition, Justice Katunguuka also advised that both parties should consider an out of court settlement for the petition.
“You still have time for you to settle this matter out of court,” she indicated.
She however did not give justification for her advice. Justice Katunguuka adjourned the matter to next week on August 24 for further hearing.
After court, Kandeebe noted that they will not take the advice of the judge, saying they have substantial evidence that can successfully support their petition before the court.
However, Nandagire said that while she is open to the advice, she is equally not afraid to defend her victory.
