{UAH} Another MP loses seat over academic papers

Another MP loses seat over academic papers

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NRM's Christopher Kalemba 

By MARTINS E. SSEKWEYAMA & GERTRUDE MUTYABA

Posted  Tuesday, July 5   2016 at  15:40

Masaka-

Kakuuto County Parliamentary seat has been declared vacant after Masaka High Court annulled the election Mr Christopher Kalemba over lack of valid academic papers and non-compliance with electoral laws.
Mr Kalemba, the National Resistance Movement candidate beat five politicians to the seat in the February 18 elections.
However, Mr Francis Drake Lubega, who contested and lost, went to court to challenge Mr Kalemba's election saying he lacked the required academic papers.

Mr Kalemba was also accused of voter bribery and failure to resign his public office before joining the race.
In his affidavit, through his lawyer Jude Mbabaali told court that Mr Kalemba, a Lwengo District Resident District Commissioner bribed a voter with six iron sheets and money on top of using a government vehicle during the campaign.
He submitted that the respondent presented a certificate in Social works and Social Administration from Kampala University, but his admission was based on an ordinary level certificate where he scored only one credit in History.

The applicant argued that although the respondent went ahead and obtained a diploma and a degree from the same university, these awards were premised on an irregular admission, something that renders them invalid.
The applicant presented to court three pay slips for May, June and July on which Mr Kalemba was getting his salary from the ministry of Public Service as an RDC yet he claimed to have resigned from office in April.
In her ruling the trial Judge Margret Tibulya found substantial evidence against the respondent thereby nullifying his election.
Justice Tibulya observed that the applicant adduced enough evidence that linked Ms Kalemba to voters' bribery, when he presented people who received the six iron sheets and Shs 200,000 who confessed to have received the items.
Court had also ruled that there is no way Mr Kalemba could obtain valid academic papers from the university using irregular admission.

According to court, a candidate can only be admitted for a certificate course upon obtaining at least three credits scored at the same sitting, which Mr Kalemba did not have.
Court has further cancelled Mr Kalemba's subsequent academic awards, saying they lacked a legitimate foundation required for his admission.
The judge has however cleared the respondent of using a government vehicle during campaigns, noting there was no substantive evidence to that effect.
The ruling was delivered in the presence of Mr Kalemba's lawyer Mr Lawrence Tumwesigye who declined to comment on the verdict.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

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