By Rehema Naggujja
Principle Judge Dr. Flavian Zeija has assigned 32 Judges to handle over 155 parliamentary and local council election petitions in different courts across the country.
According to section 63 of the parliamentary Act, an election petition should be heard and determined within six months from the date of filling and judgment should be determined within 30days of hearing . However, according to judiciary spokes person, Jameson Karemani 2021 parliament and local council petition to be heard within 15 days and will begin counting on 16th August 2021.
“We shall start courting 15 days on 16th, August, the day election petition hearing will kick off, and we have received 1.2 billions Uganda shs to help in handling these cases” Karemani Jameson said
Principal judge Dr Flavian Zeija has assigned 6 judges to Mbale high court to handle 31 election petitions, Jinja high court with 4 judges to handle over 14 petitions , civil division and Luweero hight court to have 4 judges, Fortportal high court with 3 judges , Masaka high court , Masindi and Mubende with 2 judges each and lastly Arua, Gulu, Kabale, Lira, Mbarara and Mpigi high court to have 1 judge.
On 3rd August the Chief justice Alfonse Chigamony owiny Dollo issued a revised contingency measures and guidelines to mitigate the spread of covid19 during the hearing of election petition.
Election victory of over 50mps were challenged in court accusing them of election fraud and violence, non compliance with electoral laws, voter bribery and lack of academic papers
