The court of appeal has ordered fresh elections for the Kween LC 5 chairperson seat. This follows a judgment upholding a high court ruling nullifying the election of Lawrence Mangusho on grounds of lack of the requisite academic qualifications.
Three Justices of the court led by Deputy Chief Justice Alice Mpagi Bahegeine declined to fault suspended Mbale high court Judge Margaret Oguli Oumo saying she properly evaluated the evidence adduced before her and reached the correct conclusion that Mangusho is not properly qualified to lead the district. The other Justices were Augustine Nshimye and Remmy Kasule.
Nelson Chelimo, the former Kapchorwa district chairperson, dragged Mangusho to court contesting his academic qualifications. Nelson claimed that Mangusho did not have an A-level certificate mandatory to hold office and the equivalent that Mangusho received from the National Council of Higher Education was invalid.
The judges reaffirmed Justice Oumo’s findings and ordered for fresh elections to be held immediately. Mangusho was also ordered to pay Chelimo the costs of the petition.
