2ND BENCH: From left; Mps Kibedi Nsegumire, Francis Zaake, David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga, Joyce Bagala and Ssimbwa attending court in Mubende where judge ordered for a by election
OPINION BY
MP FRANCIS ZAAKE
ON FRIDAY morning, His Lordship Hon. Justice Emmanuel Bagumajudge of Mubende High Court nullified Hon. Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa’s election as Woman Member of Parliament representing Mityana District on grounds that there were electoral malpractices in the electoral process that returned her as winner. He ordered for a by election.
Specifically, among other things, the Judge stated that I (Hon. Zaake)bribed voters in Mityana to vote for Hon. Bagala.
In his Judgment, Hon. Justice Baguma states that, I acted as Hon. Bagala’s agent and bribed a one Nakyagaba Tolophina with UGX 10,000/= to vote for my candidate.
I take strong exception to this outrageous conclusion that the Judge reached, without even offering me an opportunity to be heard, even when I attended many Court sessions that the Judge presided over.
I wish to set the record straight that I have never given the said Nakyagaba Tolophina any single coin money or with the intention of influencing her or anybody else to vote for Hon. Bagala or any other candidate. In fact, I have never heard of this person! I don’t know her.
BUDDIES: Hon. Zaake and Hon. Bagala
As a flag bearer of NUP, it was my responsibility to campaign for Hon. Bagala and other NUP candidates in my district.
That of course did not turn me into her agent! How could I fail to bribe my own voters and I bribe for another candidate?
Generally speaking, I think that this judgment sets a bad precedent which should find no space in our Country’s Jurisprudence.
It’s good to know that Hon. Bagala intends to appeal against such a judgement which has a lot of errors.
The writer Hon. Francis Zaake is a Commissioner Parliament of Uganda and member of Parliament representing Mityana Municipality. He is the National youth leader in opposition NUP Party
