By KT Reporter
The National Resistance Movement Elections Disputes Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by Nakasongola County Member of Parliament Noah Mutebi Wanzala over a lack of evidence.
Since 2016, Mutebi has won the Parliamentary seat as the NRM flagbearer.
But in last month’s NRM Primaries, Mutebi lost the NRM flag to his arch-rival Stephen Tibelondwa Bujjingo.
Godfrey Batumbya, the Nakasongola District NRM Registrar, declared Bujjingo the winner of the flag after he garnered 10,531 votes, and Mutebi got 7186 votes. Others that include district speaker Rogers Bwanga trailed in third position with 3365 votes, and Robert Sekayingo got 1867 votes among others.
However, Mutebi rejected the results and petitioned the NRM Elections Disputes Tribunal seeking nullification of the elections and holding fresh polls.
In his petition, Mutebi alleged that the primaries were marred with irregularities that included ineligible voters, intimidation of voters, violence and tampering of the results in favour of Bujjingo.
However, in his defence, Bujjingo denied the allegations and said the petitioner presented no evidence linking him to the claims.
After both making the submissions, on Friday, the NRM Elections Disputes Tribunal made a ruling dismissing Mutebi’s petition, saying they found no sufficient basis to set aside the elections or order fresh polls.
” The declaration of Stephen Bujjingo Tibelondwa as flagbearer of Nakasongola Constituency is hereby fully upheld,, the panel led by Anthony Bazira ruled.
The ruling is also signed by other panellists that including Joseph Lobalang and Isaac Okurut.
Another petition filed by Nakasongola District Speaker Rogers Sande Bwanga, challenging the election of Tibelondwa, was also dismissed.
Bwanga had alleged that there was falsification of results, inconsistencies in voters for Bujjingo and District Woman MP flagbearer elections, which points to fraud.
The NRM Elections Disputes Tribunal panel, led by Elton Mugabi, two other Members, Stanley Kangye and Blair Atwebembeire, also dismissed the petition. They also upheld the elections of Bujjingo.
Both Noah Mutebi and Rogers Sande Bwanga have since declared that they will contest as independents after failing to get justice.
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