NRM supporters in Bushenyi are in a somber mood following the nullification of the election of the Ishaka county Member of parliament. This morning, three judges of the court of appeal led by Alice Mpagi, the deputy chief justice nullified the election of Nasser Bassajabalaba citing voter bribery.
Bassajabalaba was dragged to court by his rival Odo Tayebwa after losing the parliamentary elections. Tayebwa contested against Bassajabalaba in February 2011 and lost the polls. He rejected the results and petitioned Mbarara high court. Justice Vincent Zehurikize dismissed the petition arguing that the petitioner had failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove his case.
But today, the panel of three judges Alice Bahegaine Mpagi, Constance Byamugisha and Stella Arach said that there was sufficient evidence to prove the allegations of bribery. The judges cited an incident where Hassan Bassajabalaba, the elder brother of the MP visited Ruharo church three days to the polls to campaign for him and donated shillings 5.7 million.
They argued that the donation was meant to corrupt the minds of catholic voters in the constituency to vote for Basajjabalaba. They therefore set aside his election, and ordered fresh polls. The news took many supporters of Bassajabalaba in Ishaka town by surprise. Many supporters could be seen sitting in small groups pondering their next move.
However, Odo’s supporters have already formed an adhoc committee to celebrate his court victory. The committee is led by Deus Kansiime, a driver in Ishaka Municipality. Deus Atumanya, one of the FDC supporters in Ishaka says they are excited about the court ruling.
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Efforts to get a comment from the NRM party chairperson Bushenyi district Hassan Bassajjabalaba were futile as he could not be reached on phone.
