“I have a good case which would be lost if I engaged in chaos. I continue to ask my supporters out there to keep peaceful as we let the law play its part. At least no one is above the law,” Muyanja stressed.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer for Mukono district chairperson seat, Johnson Muyanja Ssenyonga who claims his victory was fraudulently stripped from him and shifted to NRM’s Francis Lukooya Mukoome in the hotly contested race, has opted to seek court redress to recover his victory.
He said he has instructed a nine-man team of lawyers to plead his case, and that he is currently engaged into a process legally binding Lukooya from swearing as chairman, let alone conduct any official business in the name of the district chairman.
“I have all backing evidence right from the field where truckful of armed UPDF soldiers travelling in ‘drone’ vehicles overran several polling centres, ticked and stuffed ballot papers into ballot boxes at Katosi, Mpatta and Mpunge sub-counties, in addition to turning over his announcement by the Returning Officer as having won, and instead influenced a revised announcement declaring Lukooya the winner”, Ssenyonga told journalists at his home at Kauga in Mukono Municipality’s Central Division.
Muyanja who said he did not want to over react as all these irregularities took place, disclosed that he has all DR forms reflecting the outcome of the more than 1,000 polling centres, showing him as the victor, adding that he is ready to battle to the last strength until justice is exercised.
He categorized what transpired at the tally centre as daylight robbery in which he did not invoke physical zeal to avoid a chaotic situation and possible bloodletting, after Lukooya who he claims he had beaten by over 30,000 votes, was declared winner; he noted that he has opted to let the law take its course.
The Mukono District Returning Officer, Emily Amongin at first declared Ssenyonga the winner with a total of 51,686 votes while Lukooya garnered 50,254. But as Ssenyonga’s supporters engaged in victory celebrations, Lukooya’s team also began celebrating simultaneously.
As one thing led to the other, Mukono district NRM chairman, Haji Haruna Ssemakula, accompanied by a UPDF officer, Capt. Reagan Muganza entered the tally centre hall followed by the Mukono district assistant RDC, Esther Nakyazze Baroma and engaged the EC team in a two-hour closed-door meeting.
Lukooya meanwhile also engaged the media claiming he was the rightful winner, adding that he was also amazed that Ssenyonga had been announced winner.
Meanwhile, Muyanja in the company of two other MP-elect members from the NUP camp Sheillah Draville Amaniyo, the district woman MP and Mukono South’s Robert Maseruka, tried to seek assistance from the Mukono Division Police Commander, Bernard Mugerwa to no avail.
Having declared the first winner (Muyanja) at around 3:00pm, Amongin came back at around 6:30pm and changed his first verdict. She this time declared Lukooya the winner with 52,523 votes yet Muyanja who had come second had 52,105. The independent candidate, Lauben Ssenyonjo garnered 3095 votes.
Nakwedde’s Win in Doubt as Court Hears NRM’s Vote Recount Application
Muyanja majestically moved out of the tally center without causing any havoc and while addressing the media, he said that he did not want the rest of Mukono to react in a manner that would make people and their lives to be lost, destroyed and injured.
“I have a good case which would be lost if I engaged in chaos. I continue to ask my supporters out there to keep peaceful as we let the law play its part. At least no one is above the law,” Muyanja stressed.
There were also anomalies in the councilors’ seats with claims that NRM flag bearers had been declared winners where NUP candidates had won.
From Nama sub-county, NUP candidate Paul Kawombe claimed foul play when Gasheegu Mulamira of NRM was announced as the winner.
