The Court of Appeal has upheld the Victory of NUP's Joyce Bagala as the validly Elected Woman Member of Parliament for Mityana District.
This is after three justices of the Court of Apoeal led by Geofrey Kiryabwire set aside the Mubende High Court Decision that had nullified Bagala's Victory on grounds that there was non compliance with the Electoral laws.
Bagala's victory had been challenged by NRMs and lands Minister Judith Nabakooba who had accused Bagala of having engaged in various Electoral malpractices including voter bribery and the use of soldiers to intimidate voters.
However, the Court of Appeal ruled that Nabakooba failed to adduce evidence to prove the said allegations noting that even if there was non compliance with the Electoral laws, it was not sufficient enough to affect the Election in a substantive manner.
During the hearing of the case, MP Bagala had matained that she will reclaim her seat because the Election was conducted in compliance with the Electoral Laws.
The opposition MP wondered how the Minister could have accused her of using government soldiers to rig the Elections as an oppostipn candidate.
She disputed all the allegations lodged on her by minister Nabakooba of voter bribery, stating that even if there were any aspects of noncompliance with the Electoral Laws, they were not sufficient enough to warrant a nullification of her victory.
MP Bagala contended that the said election was free and fair, and that if there was any non-compliance it didn't warrant cancellation of the result; especially when there's no evidence that the people who allegedly bribed voters were her agents.
She then asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the lower Court decision and uphold her victory.
The Court ordered both of the parties to bear costs for the suit.
Speaking shortly after her victory, MP Bagala welcomed the rulling and thanked her voters for standing with her.
