The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Tororo on Thursday afternoon dismissed with costs a vote recount application filed by the incumbent Member of Parliament for West Budama South County, Dr Emmanuel Otaala, against his rival and declared winner, George Okecho of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Delivering the ruling, Tororo Chief Magistrate Irene Nambatya said the application lacked merit.
In the January 15 parliamentary elections, Dr Otaala received 11,788 votes, falling short of Okecho’s 12,015 votes.
Otaala had sought a recount of votes in eight polling stations in Osia Sub-county, Okecho’s home area, alleging ballot stuffing, alteration of results, and intimidation of voters and polling agents.
He also requested scrutiny of ballot boxes across Osia Sub-county, claiming that votes cast in favor of Okecho exceeded the number of registered voters.
However, Chief Magistrate Nambatya ruled that the court could not be compelled to conduct what she described as a “vote-hunting expedition” by scrutinizing and recounting ballots across the entire sub-county.
She further noted that the court was unable to reconcile the numerical discrepancies cited in Otaala’s application, leading to its dismissal with costs.
After the ruling, Otaala said he respected the court’s decision but expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome.
He announced plans to file a substantive application in the High Court once Okecho’s victory is officially gazetted and vowed to continue pursuing justice on behalf of the people of West Budama South County.
Okecho welcomed the ruling, saying justice had prevailed. He dedicated the court victory to his voters and thanked his legal team for ensuring that, in his words, “the people’s victory was not stolen.”
Okecho further pledged to serve his electorate diligently upon assuming his parliamentary duties.
