KASESE: There was a bitter exchange of words between the former Busongora South legislator, Jackson Mbaju Kathika, and police in Kasese district on Wednesday as he attempted to celebrate his successful appeal in the court of appeal challenging the victory of his rival, Gideon Mujungu Thembo. Kathika tried to use the same celebrations to launch his campaign for the forthcoming by-elections.
In 2021, the Electoral Commission declared Mujungu, who ran on the National Resistance Movement-NRM party ticket, the winner of the Busongora South parliamentary seat with 7,601 votes against the 7,522 votes garnered by his rival.
Mbaju rejected defeat and petitioned Fort Portal High Court, citing cases of voter bribery, ballot stuffing, and the existence of ghost voters on the register. However, Justice Victorious Katamba, who listened to the application, dismissed it, citing insufficient evidence. As a result, Mbaju decided to appeal the high court judgment, saying that the judge had failed to evaluate the evidence before the court.
Last week, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal Justices led by Frederick Egonda Ntende concurred with Mbaju and ordered a fresh election. On Wednesday, Mbaju, who was coming from Kampala, had planned to meet his supporters in Karusandara, Muhokya, Katunguru, and Mbunga Sub Counties but was intercepted by police in Hima and barred from entering Kasese town.
Transport between Hima and Kasese town was halted for several hours as security officers attempted to direct Kathika and his supporters on where to go to reach his home in Mbunga.led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Joackim Bwakya argued that the electoral commission had not yet issued a road map regarding the by-election and thus they never expected any political activities.
Mbaju accused security of obstructing their peaceful political activities where they intended to market their candidature. He, however, warned that they would not tolerate what he described as police intimidation and harassment of their supporters. However, Rwenzori East Regional Police Commander John Bosco Otim advised the former legislator to meet his supporters at his residence.
Honesty Kasoki, a member of the National Unity Platform-NUP political party, blamed the police for double standards, noting that Mujungu was allowed to meet his supporters last week shortly after the court ruling.
Mbaju, who in 2021 ran as an independent candidate after falling out with the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party, joined NUP and is highly expected to be the party flag bearer.