The scheduled hearing of three election petitions at Soroti High Court failed to take off this morning following a motor accident involving the presiding judge, Lady Justice Mary Kisakye Kaitesi. Justice Kaitesi was involved in the accident on Sunday night at Kiryoro along the Pallisa-Tirinyi road in Kibuku District while travelling to Soroti City, where she was scheduled to preside over the petitions.
The crash occurred at about 8:30 pm and involved the judge’s Toyota Prado, registration number UG 2500149, and a Mitsubishi Fuso truck, registration numbers UBA 966I and UBA 329Q. The judge was travelling with her bodyguard, Corporal Pamela Makirwoth, while the driver of the truck was also involved in the crash. According to information presented to the court, Justice Kaitesi sustained a dislocation in the accident.
Lawyers, petitioners and respondents had already assembled at Soroti High Court awaiting the start of the proceedings when Deputy Registrar Emmy Sayekwo informed them that the hearings could not proceed. “We are unable to continue with the election petition hearing, and the accident has affected it. We will reach out to you when we are set to begin and when the next date is determined. Unless the judicial administrators decide to assign another judicial officer to continue with the hearing, we will communicate. The next date will be shared on your WhatsApp after the hearing date is fixed,” Sayekwo told the court.
The three petitions scheduled for hearing were filed by Harriet Anyimo, a former candidate for Dakabela County, against the election of Peter Edopu Edeku and the Electoral Commission; Phillip Oucor, challenging the election of Peter Ojiit in Pingire County, Serere District; and John Esudu against Abraham Okwalinga over the election for LCIII of Kyere Sub-county in Serere District.
Anyimo’s lawyer, Innocent Okong, said they had arrived prepared to proceed with the hearing but would now wait for further communication from the Judiciary. “There’s no exact date for the next hearing because we do not know when the judge will be well or when the Judiciary will allocate another judge, but we will wait for the notice in the WhatsApp groups,” Okong said. Anyimo, who contested the Dakabela County parliamentary election as an independent candidate, said she remained confident that the courts would restore what she described as her victory.
“I believe the courts will prevail in terms of justice. With my God that I serve, everything will work out. I want everybody to remain firm; the best leader for Dakabela is Anyimo, and she was the one who had passed. I want to serve my people and give them service above service,” she said. During the general elections, Anyimo polled 8,180 votes and finished second, while Edopu, who was declared the winner, obtained 9,588 votes. Cosmas Elotu came third with 4,393 votes.
In Pingire County, Peter Ojiit was declared the winner after securing 8,031 votes, followed by Phillip Oucor with 5,475 votes and Fred Opolot with 1,729 votes. The petitions have not yet been given new hearing dates, with Soroti High Court awaiting communication from the judicial administration on whether another judge will be assigned or the cases rescheduled until Justice Kaitesi recovers-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
