Hearing of election petitions in the Mbale High Court Circuit has begun, with four cases coming up before Judge Lillian Omara.
The petitions challenge the election of leaders in different constituencies, with claims ranging from alleged nationality and academic qualifications to arithmetic errors in the tallying of results.
Eight election petitions have so far been registered in the Mbale High Court Circuit, with the remaining four scheduled to come up for hearing on September 21.
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The Mbale High Court was filled to capacity as supporters of the different candidates turned up for the first day of the hearings.
All the parties and their lawyers were present as Justice Lillian Omara took the four petitions on the cause list.
The judge took the parties through the court's expectations and set October 15 to 19 for the hearing of the petitions. The parties were also given schedules and timelines for filing their missing and final sets of documents ahead of the hearings.
"We have been waiting for this since the end of the election cycle. It has taken us so long, but it is good this day has come. We hope the petitions will be determined and disposed of as quickly as possible," said Nangulu, a lawyer representing one of the respondents.
In the first case, Masika Apollo is challenging the election of Namisindwa County MP Metrine Nanzala, questioning her nationality and alleging that she is a Kenyan national.
Nanzala's lawyers, led by Rebecca Nabumboyi, said the petitioner's claims must be tested against the evidence presented before the court.
Another petition has been filed by Magombe Vincent against the Electoral Commission and Mbale City Mayor Kidulu Joyce Matuka.
The petitioner accuses the Electoral Commission of using incorrect results to declare Matuka the winner.
Kirya Twaha, the lawyer representing Magombe Vincent, told Nile Post that his client claims results from five polling stations were omitted and that, if included, he would automatically be declared the winner.
"My client says tallies from five polling stations were omitted, and if they are added, he would automatically be declared the winner," Twaha said.
Magombe said his complaint was not against Matuka personally, but against the Electoral Commission, which he accused of incorrectly tallying the results.
"My matter is simple, and it is not about Madam Kidulu because she does not organise elections, neither does she declare herself the winner. My problem is with the Electoral Commission, which wrongly tallied the results," Magombe said.
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"Instead of wasting the court's time, you could even tally afresh," he added.
The third petition pits Cherotwo Diana against the Electoral Commission and Kween Woman Member of Parliament Sange Jackline.
Cherotwo is challenging Sange's election, with her petition raising questions about the MP's academic qualifications.
The fourth case on the day's cause list is Okoler Enock versus Aisu Ibrahim Ibrahim and the Electoral Commission.
The court is expected to examine the grounds raised in the petition as the parties begin presenting their respective cases.
A total of eight election petitions have been registered in the Mbale High Court Circuit. The remaining four cases are scheduled to commence hearing on September 21.
For now, the court will have to weigh the evidence presented by each petitioner against the responses of the successful candidates and the Electoral Commission before determining whether any of the contested elections should stand.
