This followed an application by Ssempiija complaining that the vote counting and tallying was marred by irregularities which denied him victory.
Katabaazi, pulled over 12,000 votes against Ssempijja’s 10,800, indicating a margin of 1,300 votes.
Former area MP Umar Lule Mawiya (Ind) came in third place with 6,400 votes followed by Didas Mugooma another independent candidate with 2,300 votes.
Court presided over by Masaka Chief Magistrate Charles Yeteise, has heard that the tallying exercise was full of gross irregularities and that Ssempijja’s polling agents were reportedly chased from some polling stations.
Ssempijja’s lawyers led by Geoffrey Kandebe told the court that similar incidents of chasing polling agents occurred in at least 25 polling stations which gave a chance to Katabaazi’s agents and Electoral Commission polling officials to reportedly tamper with the votes to the disadvantage of Ssempijja.
Kalungu East MP-elect runs to court to block Minister Ssempijja’s vote recount
Tuesday January 26 2021
Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Vincent Ssempijja (left) lost Kalungu East MP seat to Mr Francis Katabaazi Katongole (right) of NUP.
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Kalungu East MP-elect, Mr Francis Katabaazi Katongole has filed an application seeking to block recounting of votes in contested 25 polling stations.
Masaka chief magistrate Charles Yeteise on Monday granted an application seeking for a vote recount filed by Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Vincent Ssempijja who lost the seat to Katabaazi of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Mr Ssempijja told court that his agents at the 25 contested polling stations were dismissed from the polling stations which gave a chance to Katabazi s camp to rig votes in his favor costing him victory
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