Court Halts Kassanda South Vote Recount Amid Serial Number Dispute

A planned recount of ballots for the Kassanda South parliamentary election has been halted by the High Court in Mubende. The decision by Acting Judge Mary Babirye came after significant questions arose regarding the serial numbers and seals of the ballot boxes presented for the exercise.

The recount was ordered as part of an election petition filed by Eria Mubiru, who is challenging the victory of NRM’s Abdul Bisaso. Mubiru alleges irregularities, including ballot stuffing, occurred during the January election. Bisaso was declared the winner with 11,765 votes, narrowly defeating Mubiru’s 11,050.

The proceedings hit a snag when the judge sought clarification on whether the serial numbers on the presented ballot boxes matched those used during the election. Counsel for the declared winner, Haruna Ssewaya, argued for the suspension, citing that the boxes had been in Electoral Commission (EC) custody for nine months and raised concerns about their integrity.

While lawyers for the petitioner initially opposed the halt, the judge ultimately suspended the recount when the required serial number documentation could not be produced by the parties. The judge emphasized the need to verify the ballot boxes to ensure the recount’s integrity and prevent it from being a “sham.”

The Electoral Commission’s lawyer, Eric Sabiti, contended that the commission had provided documentation regarding the handling and transport of the boxes. However, the court noted that not all candidates’ representatives had received copies of the serial numbers at the time of dispatch, undermining verification efforts.

Following the halt, the ballot boxes have been returned to the EC’s storage facility in Kassanda. The court has directed all parties to file their final submissions within five days, after which a judgment will be made on the election petition.

Source: Daily Monitor