A group of nine voters from Hoima District have petitioned the High Court in Kampala over delayed polls to fill the position of district woman Member of Parliament by the Electoral Commission.
On July 1, a number of new district came into effect and among them was Kikuube curved out of Hoima rendering the woman MP for the latter null and void.
A number of parties recently organised primaries to get candidates that would vie for the Woman MP positions during the elections that are yet to be conducted by the Electoral Commission.
The group of nine voters represented by Anthony Wameli from Wameli and Company Advocates have petitioned the court saying that it is failure by the Electoral Commission to organise polls to fill the woman MP position is illegal and contravenes the constitution.
“It is now over 150 days and the respondents (Electoral Commission) have neither organised nor conducted any elections for the Woman Member of Parliament for Hoima district as is provided for by law. As a result, the petitioners and other people in the district have to an extent been denied the right to be governed through their will and consent as in constitutionally provided for,” says the petitioners.
The petitioners say that women in Hoima have been denied their right to affirmative action as provided for in the Constitution without any justification whatsoever.
They also say that by delaying to organise polls for the Woman Member of Parliament for Hoima district, the voters have been denied a right to representation in parliament by the Electoral Commission.
“We request an order directing the respondents (Electoral Commission), their agents, servants or officials to immediately organise and conduct elections for the Woman Member of Parliament,” the petitioners say.
“We request for an order that the respondents pay the applicants costs for this cause and any other or further declarations or orders as court deems fit in the circumstances.”
On July 1, six new districts came into effect and this include Nabilatuk curved off from Nakapiripit district, Kasanda from Mubende, Kwania from Apac, Kapelebyong from Amuria, Kikuube from Hoima and Bugweri from Iganga.
