By Spy Uganda
Former Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of African Union Commission, Lydia Wanyoto Mutende must be in a sorrowful moment after Court of Appeal throwing out her election petition against Connie Nakayenze Galiwango as Mbale Woman MP.
Wanyoto had filed a petition alleging that the electoral process was marred by widespread vote fraud and bribery by Galiwango and her agents.
In a ruling delivered by three Judges of Court of Appeal, Wanyoto was informed that she had no valid appeal before this Court. This was after she and her counsel conceded that both her memorandum and record of appeal were filed out of time.
The ruling partially reads; ”In conclusion, we need to state that by fling this application, Wanyoto and her counsel conceded that both her memorandum and record of appeal were filed out of time. We have rejected her application to validate both proceedings or to allow an extension for them to be filed out of time. In essence, there is no valid appeal before this Court. Accordingly, Election Petition Appeal No. 63 of 2021 is struck off the record with no order as to costs.
This Is Not First Loss
Court in Mbale last year dismissed with costs this same case. In his ruling on Thursday, 30 September 2021, Justice Dr. Andrew Bashaija said Wanyoto failed to prove her case with substantive evidence.
Wanyoto didn’t accept the defeat thus rushing to appeal the ruling, saying justice had not been served. Whether now it has been served and she is happy or not that can be revealed by her self.
Meanwhile, the former Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, is among those that have flocked twitter to congratulate Galiwango.
She inked, ”Congratulations to Hon Connie Galiwango, the choice of the people of Mbale City has been re-affirmed, from the Primaries, General Elections, High Court and now the Court of Appeal.”
Independent candidate Nakayenze Connie Galiwango was declared winner of the 14th January Mbale City Woman MP race after garnering 40729 votes while NRM’s Wanyoto Lydia Mutende came second with 25276 votes.
