Kampala — THE Electoral Commission (EC) has so far won 91 election petitions filed by former candidates in the 2006 national and local elections.

According to the commission, there was a total of 138 petitions relating to the 2006 elections.

Eng. Badru Kiggundu, the EC chairman, said immediately after swearing in political leaders, the commission received 90 election petitions, which was about 0.03% of the 300,000 elective positions.

He explained that the EC had conducted elections for 300,000 elective positions including presidential, parliamentary, district and sub-county leaders.

"We have won 91 election petitions and lost 42," Kiggundu said adding that he was optimistic that before 2011, five other petitions would be concluded.

The remaining election petitions include that of Mukono North constituency, where the Democratic Party spokesperson Betty Nambooze sued Rev. Bakaluba Mukasa and that of the Kamuli district chair, where Salaama Musumba sued Moses Mubiru.

Others are for the Kyaddondo North by-election, where DP's Regina Bakitte sued Eng. Robert Kasule, a petition for the Masaka woman seat and the Bugweri LC3 chair.

Uganda has over one million elective positions but the commission is yet to fill the other slots because of lack of funds and backing laws for a multiparty political system.

Kiggundu said: "It is shameful and unfortunate' for people who aspire to hold public offices to forge academic papers."

"The punishment must be evolved in the laws to suit the offence. I would propose banning that person from any elective office for five years," he added.

Kiggundu said such a punishment would be a lesson to children who are future leaders.

"My biggest challenge remains the ease with which voters are bribed yet tracking those involved is not easy," he added.