By Our Reporter
MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2019; HON. SSEKANDI ELECTION COSTS PAID
As we celebrate the end of 2019 on my part I am celebrating it in a special way. In 2011 I contested against Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi for MP Bukoto Central, the Returning Officer of Masaka then Mr. Ephraim Tugume at Ssaza Tallying Centre interchanged my results with those of Sekandi and declared him the winner. Tugume was later dismissed from the Electoral Commission for the said malpractice.
I took the matter to court and contrary to what many believed that I was bribed and let Ssekandi walk away scot-free instead I was condemned to pay him heavy costs and in one lump sum.
I applied for a court order that I be allowed to pay in installments because I earn little but my plea fell on deaf ears as orders to be arrested and be taken to Luzira Civil Prison were issued against by the Registrar.
To avoid prison I asked court to grant me an hour to go and mobilise the money and pay but instead I hid in corridors of court pulled out my laptop and drafted an Application to a Judge to allow me pay the said money in installments.
The judge analyzed my situation questioned me about my income, he was convinced and quickly issued a stay of the arrest and later after hearing the Ssekandi side granted me an order to pay in affordable installments to Ssekandi through his lawyers; K&K (Kiryowa & Karugire) Advocates.
Since then I have been battling with the costs and the last installments were paid in last months of 2019. (See some of pay slips attached)
I thank all those who helped me to get out of this ugly situation and in particular the legal advise and representation provided by Counsel Fredrick Semwanga, Counsel Katumba Chrizestom, Counsel Medard Lubega and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Jude Mbabaali
Advocate & Commissioner for Oaths,
LC5 Chairman, Masaka District”
Indeed the man can now have peaceful nights after spending years on tenterhooks, fearing arrest any time.
