By Sania Babirye
The Court of Appeal has overturned the Soroti high court decision that had nullified the election of Katakwi district woman MP Violet Akurut.
Three court of appeal justices led by deputy chief justice Steven Kavuma ruled that the lower court trial judge David Wangutusi applied the law wrongly when he treated the MP as a public servant for failing to resign her position in the Human rights commission 90 days before she presented herself for nomination.
The justices ruled that Hon Akurut is not a public servant as it had been stated because she is not an employee of the Human Rights Commission and commissioners are not public servants.
The court has now reinstated her as the district woman MP and ordered the petitioner to pay her costs of the suit.
In July 2016 the MPs victory was cancelled on grounds that she never resigned her public service position as a commissioner with the Uganda Human Rights Commission after a voter a one Simon Peter Emorutu challenged her victory and ordered for fresh elections.