Court overturns decision on Katakwi MP Akurut

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.