{UAH} Amoru was fraudulently elected Dokolo North MP- court rules

TO ALL
My brother John Baptist Okello Okello was elected by over 90% of the people of Dokolo, but his victory was denied by the fraudulent activities of the NRA cabal. There was open gerrymandering of votes, votes from stations suspected of supporting him were declared invalid and he was himself badly assaulted by NRA militia and thugs, requiring medical treatment abroad. He nevertheless persisted with the legal challenge, to oppose what everybody in Dokolo knows was a fraudulent exercise.
Nobody in Dokolo supports the NRA. If an armed struggle was ever to start in Uganda, it would be based in Dokolo in the first instance. The people of Dokolo have suffered the most under this criminal regime.
The people of Dokolo have a very proud history of resistance against oppressors. They opposed Arab Slave traders, sacrificing many gallant lives in the process. They opposed colonialism and collaborated with the anti-colonial resistance led by Kabaka Mwanga and King Kabalega and provided refuge to both leaders when the colonialists were hot on their pursuits.
The People of Dokolo were also very active participants in the anti-Amin struggle and lost so many young people who joined the anti-Amin struggle in South Sudan and later in Tanzania. One of the most revered of the anti-Amin guerrlla leaders, Imat Mary Ogwal, came from Dokolo itself.
The people of Dokolo are thereofre not afraid to stand up for their rights and no body should be surprised if Dokolo becomes the new epicentre of resistance to Rwandan occupation of our country. We have shed our blood before and we are prepared to do so again.
My brother Johb B. Okello-Okello and others are right to follow the legal route and I salute them, but the only real solution to Uganda's problem is the armed struglle. Without iron and blood, we will never end the tyranny that has ruined our country and shut it completely in the dark ages.
George Okello
Amoru was fraudulently elected Dokolo North MP- court rules
The Electoral Commission was the second respondent. Court says the electoral body did not follow stipulated rules
Friday July 8 2016
Mr Amoru
By BILL OKETCH DOKOLO
The High Court in Lira District has nullified the election of Paul Amoru as Member of Parliament for Dokolo North Constituency in Dokolo District.
This comes after the former Dokolo District chairman John Baptist Okello Okello of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) petitioned court challenging the election of Mr Amoru, who was the NRM flag bearer.
Justice Wilson Musene Masalu, while delivering the judgment on Friday, said the first respondent was fraudulently elected MP when the Electoral Commission (second respondent) failed to comply with the electoral laws. The non-compliance with the laws affected the election in substantial manner.
Court heard that the Electoral Commission excluded results for Amoloreco Polling Station, failed to account for 1,070 ballot papers, and declared results for eight polling stations without signed Declaration Results (DR) Forms.
The fully-packed court also heard that the second respondent unlawfully declared 1,617 votes as invalid, contrary to the law.
Court was also informed that a one Charles Ewai, one of the petitioner's agents was cross-examined by the counsel for the second respondent as to whether he had complained about the invalid votes. In his reply, the agent said he complained to the presiding officer about the invalid votes numbering 83 but that his complaint was not even recorded.
Court heard that Mr Ewai as the agent for the petitioner, he and others were never informed by the presiding officer or any Electoral Commission official that they had a right to lodge their complaint on the Declaration of Results Forms.
Court found out that the Electoral Commission did not provide any evidence of sensitising and training of the electorate about the relevant electoral laws and guidelines in sufficient time.
The judge ruled that the second respondent or their agents had no right whatsoever to cause a significant number of votes cast either in favour of the petitioner or the first respondent to be disregarded as invalid, noting it is an offence and non-compliance under Section 78 (b) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
"This court also finds that the petitioner proved to satisfaction of the court that the first respondent committed an act of bribery by personally delivering 15 bags of cement as a donation to Apetur Catholic Chapel on February 14, 2016 and immediately thereafter campaigned and requested the congregation to vote for him on February 18, 2016," Justice Musene ruled.
"The election of the first respondent – Amoru Paul – as the validly elected Member of Parliament for Dokolo North Constituency is hereby nullified and set aside.
"Two, fresh elections should be held as soon as possible for Member of Parliament for Dokolo North Constituency. The petitioner is entitled and is hereby awarded costs of the petition," the judge said.