The Court of Appeal has confirmed Joyce Bagala as the duly elected Mityana Woman Member of Parliament (MP).
The court has overturned the High Court decision that nullified Bagala’s win on grounds of bribery.
Bagala’s election win was challenged by Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba. Nabakooba petitioned the court, accusing the area EC officials of failing to legitimately do their job, hence costing her victory.
The minister claimed that several presiding officers in the area connived with Bagala’s agents and altered the Declaration forms on top of bribing voters on voting day. She also accused Bagala of using security operatives to intimidate her voters.
However, the Court of Appeal ruled that Minister Nabakooba failed to adduce evidence of electoral malpractice.
Bagala, who stood on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, trounced the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) sponsored candidate Nabakooba in the January 14 elections as she was declared the winner by the Mityana District Returning officer, Stephen Makubuya, with 64,305 votes. The minister who was the incumbent came second with 48,078 votes.