Mengo Court Chief Magistrate Esther Nansambu has dismissed, with costs, the application filed by NUP’s Fred Nyanzi Ssentamu against Kampala Central MP elect, Mohammed Nsereko that was seeking for a vote recount on allegations of malpractice and irregularities that Nyanzi claimed marred the said election.
Magistrate Nansambu said that Nyanzi’s application was not only based on hearsay evidence but also lacked sufficient cause to warrant a vote recount.
The Magistrate noted that she could not tamper with re-opening of the ballot boxes in whose safety and custody she is not sure of for now 13 days.
The Magistrate has also faulted Nyanzi for sitting on his rights on declaration of results day and failed to notify the Returning Officer of his intentions to challenge Nsereko’s victory through a vote recount, which would enable the RO to delay transmission of results for seven days.
The Magistrate, however, advised that the allegations Nyanzi is talking of can be challenged in the High Court. Nyanzi and his Lawyer George Musisi welcomed the advice and maintained that they are going ahead to challenge Nsereko’s victory in High Court.
Meanwhile Nsereko says he is also going to Court on Monday to file an application for taxation of his costs against Nyanzi to pay him all the money he has incurred in defending his name and victory.
NTV Uganda