The Monitor (Kampala)
Abubaker Kirunda
9 July 2009
Jinja — A witness on Tuesday told the High Court in Kamuli that top officials of the ruling National Resistance Movement party took part in rigging the Kamuli LCV by-election in April 2007.
Mr Aggrey Rwamaze, the first of the 120 witnesses lined up by FDC vice president Salamu Musumba, said he personally saw President Museveni dish out Shs10,000 and an umbrella to each voter in Kitayundwa Sub-county as incentives for voting for the NRM candidate.
NRM's Stephen Mubiru defeated Ms Musumba in the by-election to replace Mr Ahmed Kawugu Kawooya, who had been disqualified for lack of the desired academic qualifications. He had forged Advanced level results. An LCV boss must at least have an A level certificate.
The witness also said the NRM Secretary General, Mr Amama Mbabazi, intimidated and bribed voters in Kitayunjwa Sub-county. He told court that Mr Mbabazi, who is also Minister for Security, told voters at Bugaya that "they would see war" if they did not elect the NRM party flagbearer.
Ms Musumba, who is represented in the case by Wandera Ogalo & Co. Advocates, wants the Kamuli LCV chairman elections overturned by court. Mr Mubiru is represented by Kiwanuka, Karugire & Co Advocates. Justice Vincent Zenkurinkize, presiding over the petition, initially advised the two parties to consider settling the case out of court, but none of them showed the desire to do so.
"Both parties, if possible, should find a way of settling the case out of court because they have presented an overwhelming number of witnesses who would delay the case further yet it has stayed for two years," Justice Zenkurinkize said.
Ms Musumba said she is still pursuing this case to ensure that her voters don't lose confidence in her following reports she had been bribed by the NRM to drop it. "I was unfairly treated by those who bribed voters in Kamuli and I want to show the public that during elections there has to be justice," Ms Musumba vowed.
Two weeks ago Mr Ofwono Opondo, the NRM party spokesperson, during the party's delegates conference confessed that some of the NRM cadres rig their way to victory.
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