Betty Sentamu, a candidate for the National Unity Platform – NUP has lost an election petition against her NRM rival Sylvia Nayebale in the Gomba District Woman Member of Parliament race.
Sentamu, challenged the election of Nayebale on grounds of voter bribery and intimidation.
She was seeking an annulment and for Court to order that fresh elections are conducted.
Sentamu alleged that in some polling stations, there were voters whose names appeared twice on the register and that at least 40 people did not vote either by refusal to agree to be ticked for, shifting from one area to another and because some have died.
“That at Kyamukama Polling Station in Kasambya Parish, Kyayi Sub County, the tally Sheet reflects that 630 votes were counted out of the 467 votes which are not true as the voters on the National Register for Kyamukama Polling Station that did not vote are very many,” part of the petition read.
She further alleged that at Kiruli Kangenyi Polling Station, Namuddu Joyce was put at gunpoint by Nayebale’s supporter and the youth chairperson for Gomba District, Kissakyamukama Yiga forced her to allow unauthorized voters to cast votes at the polling station.
However, in the ruling on Monday at Mpigi High Court, Justice Richard Wabwire dismissed Sentamu’s election petition due to failure to pay the mandatory requisite court fees.
He ruled that Sentamu had only paid court fees of 100, 000 Shillings instead of the required 150,000 Shillings. Justice Wabwire also faulted Sentamu for failing to interpret for the witnesses in their affidavits.
He ruled that Sentamu failed to follow the legal procedures as provided for under the Election Petitions Act.
