Justice David K Wangutusi of the commercial court has today nullified the election of Viola Akurut as Katakwi Woman MP and ordered the electoral commission to organize fresh elections.
The ruling was in line with a petition filed by a voter Simon Peter Emorut challenging Akurut’s victory.
Emorut through his lawyers, Alfred Okello Oriem and Leonard Otte petitioned court seeking the nullification of Akurut's election on ground she did not retire from public employment before nomination.
He argued that this is in violation of section 4 sub sections 4 paragraph "A" of the parliamentary elections act and article 80 clauses 4 of the 1995 constitution of Uganda, which require serving public officials to resign at least 90 days to the nomination.
In his judgment read by the Soroti High Court Deputy Registrar Tumwebaze Ayebare, Justice Wangutusi noted that when parliament amended the constitution in 2005, commissioners who draw salaries from the consolidated fund were included among those who ought to resign before they seek political office.
He therefore noted that Akurut was not validly elected and nullified her election. He also ordered that fresh elections to be conducted for Woman Member of Parliament for Katakwi district.
