The High Court in Soroti has set October 13, 2026, for the hearing of an election petition challenging the victory of Dakabela County MP Peter Edopu Edeku. The petition was filed by Harriet Anyimo, a former candidate for the Dakabela County parliamentary seat, against Edopu and the Electoral Commission. Anyimo, who finished second in the race, is challenging Edopu’s election, alleging that the election was marred by violence, forgery and other irregularities.
She alleged that Edopu did not legitimately win the election and claimed that force was used to manipulate the outcome in his favour. She further claimed that she had subjected relevant electoral documents to forensic examination and discovered what she described as extensive forgery in the declaration of results forms.
Anyimo said the evidence she had gathered, including the declaration forms and findings from the forensic examination, formed the basis of her decision to petition the court.
Edopu, however, denied the allegations and described the petition as baseless. He maintained that the claims against him were founded on falsehoods rather than facts and expressed confidence that the petition would not succeed.
Lady Justice Dr Ginamia Melody Ngwatu, who is handling the petition, said she expected the hearing to begin on October 13 and, if possible, conclude by the end of the day, with all witnesses expected to testify and face cross-examination, and to be present on time.
She urged the parties to properly prepare their witnesses and advised lawyers to restrict their questions to matters relevant to the case rather than asking questions outside the scope of the proceedings. She said the court was operating under tight timelines, given the need to hear the pending election petitions and deliver rulings within the prescribed period.
The judge also called on the lawyers representing the parties to remain organised and professional during the hearing, noting that although election petitions can be contentious and pressure may be high, the parties should avoid confrontations that could disrupt proceedings.
She further cautioned the lawyers against seeking unnecessary adjournments, filing new applications or making amendments that could delay the case, saying the parties had already completed the filing process and should proceed with the evidence already before the court.
The petition will require the court to examine the evidence presented by the parties and determine whether the alleged irregularities occurred and, if so, whether they affected the validity of the election result.
Meanwhile, the Soroti High Court is yet to set a hearing date for another election petition filed by Philip Oucor challenging the election of Peter Ojiit as the MP for Pingire County. Ojiit was declared the winner after securing 8,031 votes, while Oucor obtained 5,475 votes and Fred Opolot polled 1,729 votes. Oucor contested the result, citing alleged electoral irregularities.
The petition is expected to require the court to examine the allegations and evidence presented by the petitioner, the elected MP and the Electoral Commission before determining whether the election complied with the law. The two petitions form part of the electoral disputes arising from the 2026 general elections that are being handled by the Soroti High Court-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
