The State Minister for Water Aisha Ssekindi is faced with the task of defending her election victory as the Kalungu District Woman Member of Parliament, as the Masaka High Court begins hearing election petitions arising from disputes over the January 15 polls.
Ssekindi, who contested as an independent candidate, was declared the winner of the January 15 general elections with 25,773 votes, defeating the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Hellen Nakeeya, who, according to the Electoral Commission tally, obtained 20,966 votes.
However, Ssekindi’s victory is being challenged before the Masaka High Court over allegations of electoral violence, campaign-related irregularities and falsification of results.
Nakeeya is asking the court to nullify the election and order a fresh election for the Kalungu District Woman Member of Parliament seat.
In an election petition filed through her lawyer, Simon Kasangaki, Nakeeya alleges that the election was marred by unfair practices and violence directly committed by Ssekindi and her campaign agents.
She accuses Minister Ssekindi of using her security details to unleash violence against her opponents and their supporters during the campaigns and on the eve of the elections.
In affidavits presented before Justice Bernard Namanya, Nakeeya alleges that two of her political agents were shot dead, several others injured, and her campaign vehicles destroyed in violence she attributes to Ssekindi and her agents.
Nakeeya further argues that the campaigns and elections in Kalungu District were conducted in a tense environment, which she attributes to security operatives allegedly acting in the interests of Minister Ssekindi.
According to Nakeeya, the unusual deployment of security personnel, coupled with widespread violence and harassment, created fear among voters and resulted in voter apathy, thereby undermining the principle of a free and fair election.
She is asking the court to set aside the results that led to Ssekindi’s declaration as the winner and order a fresh election for the Kalungu District Woman Member of Parliament seat.
Through her lawyers, Nakeeya has also asked the trial judge to allow them to cross-examine Teddy Nabukenya, the Kalungu District Returning Officer, whom they accuse of receiving reports about the alleged irregularities but failing to take appropriate action.
She has further notified the court that she will present police reports concerning the incidents of campaign violence to substantiate her application for a fresh election.
In her defence, Minister Aisha Ssekindi denies planning or participating in any form of campaign violence, arguing that her opponent is merely seeking undue political relevance after losing the election.
Through her lawyer, Eddie Ssansa, Ssekindi has also asked the court for permission to cross-examine Nakeeya, the petitioner, and seven of her witnesses in a bid to disprove their allegations and challenge the petition.
Meanwhile, Haruna Ssewaya, a lawyer representing the Electoral Commission, told the court that the commission has also prepared its defence and is ready to begin presenting its submissions.
The court has accordingly set Thursday, September 24, to begin hearing the petition.
A total of 21 election petitions were filed in the Masaka High Court Circuit, challenging the declaration of results in various constituencies across the Greater Masaka sub-region.
