Peter Mugema Panadol, flanked by his lawyer, also Kampala Central MP Mohammad Nsereko addresses journalists after the ruling at Court of Appeal in Kampala on Thursday: PHOTO BY RACHEAL AGABA
Former Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire and Justice Cheborion Barishaki on Thursday overruled Jinja High court Judge Magret Mutonyi’s ruling that had nullified Mugema’s victory citing bribery of voters.
The three judges said Opposition Forum for Democratic Change’s Abed Nassar Mudyobole failed to bring sufficient evidence to prove that a one Ngobi Yasin and Waibi Siraje bribed voters on behalf of Panadol.
Mudyobole had also petitioned saying Panadol’s donation of Shs300,000 at the Cross Over prayer on December 31, 2016 in Iganga was a bribe. However the judges ruled that this was baseless since both candidates were present at the said prayer meeting and gave offertories.
Mudyobole will now have to pay Mugema all the costs he incurred in defending his victory both in the High court and Court of Appeal.
Mudyobole’s Lawyer Alex Luganda feels that there is a need to amend the law on election appeals to allow dissatisfied litigants to proceed to the Supreme court, as there are “absurd decisions of law that are being set by the Court of Appeal.”
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