The Attorney General has advised Kabale district local government to conduct fresh elections for its representative to Kabale University Council. This stems from a disputed election held on July 21, 2022, that prompted Leopold Twesigye, a district councilor to petition the high court citing irregularities.
The disputed polls saw the Northern Division representative Verah Tuyizere Tumuheki elected to replace the late former Kabale District LC V Chairperson, Patrick Besigye Keihwa, who died last year. Tumuheki garnered 18 votes defeating his rival March Boaz, the Ryakarimira town council LC V councilor who got 16 votes.
The election split the district council. In July 2022, Twesigye through his lawyers of Mujurizi, Arinaitwe, and Byamukama Advocates petitioned Kabale High Court in a miscellaneous cause number 08 of 2022 requesting nullification of the elections.
He argued that the district speaker, Flavia Nyinakiza Kanagizi who presided over the council during the election also voted in violation of the Local Government Act, which required her to abstain.
He explained that even after voting, Nyinakiza went ahead and submitted Tumuheki’s name to Kabale University Council, yet it is the role of the Chief Administrative Officer. High Court scheduled October 20, 2022, as the date for the hearing of the case.
When the matter went to the High court, the Chief Administrative Officer wrote to the Attorney general on July vide reference number SPS 126/104/01 for legal advice. Now in his September 7th letter, Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa advises a repeat of the elections in line with the rightful procedure.
He advises the exclusion of the speaker from taking part in any council debate on the party, saying she has no original or casting vote for the election of the representative to the university council. He also directs the CAO to ensure that Twesigye’s suit is settled out of court without costs.
Fred Kalyesubula, Kabale Chief Administrative Officer confirmed to URN receiving the advice from Attorney general’s chambers and has promised to act as directed.
Twesigye has welcomed the Attorney general’s advice describing it as professional. He, however, insists that Kabale district local government must compensate him for the expenses he encountered while filing the suit.
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