MP Ssekikubo rival asks for vote recount

Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Sekikubo (C) with his lawyers Caleb Alaka (L) and Mr Medard Ssegona (R) at Masaka Chief Magistrates Court recently. PHOTO BY ISSA ALIGA 

In Summary

According to the application filed on March 1, Mr Nkalubo said his votes were swapped with those of Ssekikubo. In the same suit, Mr Nkalubo also accused the Electoral Commission of conniving with his rival to deny him victory

The opponent of Lwemiyaga County MP-elect Theodore Ssekikubo, has sued him over election rigging.
Mr Patrick Nkalubo says there was ballot stuffing at various polling stations and therefore wants the Chief Magistrates Court in Masaka to order a recount of the ballots.

Mr Nkalubo filed the petition on March 1, and the Masaka Chief magistrate Samuel Munobe was supposed to give a ruling yesterday evening.

According to the application filed on March 1, Mr Nkalubo said his votes were swapped with those of Ssekikubo. In the same suit, Mr Nkalubo also accused the Electoral Commission of conniving with his rival to deny him victory.

“The only method of discovering the actual numerical performance of myself and that of the third respondent is through a recount presided over by the learned Chief Magistrate and conducted in accordance with the learned Chief Magistrates directions,” Mr Nkalubo says.

He alleges that the Electoral Commission results declaration forms were swapped in favour of the incumbent MP Ssekikubo.
Mr Ssekikubo is represented by Caleb Alaka and the Member of Parliament for Busiro South Medard Lubega Ssegona.
Mr Sekikubo says he won the elections genuinely but there is a plot by the district bigwigs who are behind Mr Nkalubo seeking a recount, which he says will not happen.

In a related matter, Ms Joy Kabatsi, who contested for the Ssembabule District Woman MP seat but lost to Ms Hanifah Kawooya, the incumbent, has also challenged the results and says there was ballot stuffing in favour of her rival.

Victory statement
After being declared winner of Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament race last Thursday, Mr Theodore Ssekikubo, the incumbent area MP, said he will never have his voice stifled under any circumstance.

Speaking to journalists in Sembabule District headquarters, Mr Ssekikubo said had it not been his shrewdness, he would not have manoeuvered through the many ploys against him to attain the victory.

He said he attained victory after going through a lot of scuffles, chaotic and dramatic scenes that characterised the election in his constituency.

Mr Ssekikubo, the NRM flag bearer, beat his long-time rival Patrick Nkalubo with a difference of 1,198 votes. While declaring the results on February 19, Mr Latif Ngonzi, the district returning officer, indicated that Mr Ssekikubo attained his victory with 9,272 votes (52.77 per cent) against Independent candidate Patrick Nkalubo’s 8,074 votes (45.95 percent) .

Other candidates were FDC’s Wilber Nahweera ,who scored 157 (0.29 percent) and Andrew Nankunda (Ind.) with 68 votes.
Although Ssekikubo was happy with his victory, he still cited a number of irregularities that marred the election.