Judge closes hearing of petition challenging minister Ssekindi's Kalungu victory

By Fahad Malik Jjingo & HANIFAH NANYANZI

Parties in a petition challenging the election of State Minister for Water Aisha Ssekindi as Kalungu District Woman Member of Parliament have closed their evidence, with the High Court in Masaka now set to receive final submissions.

The petition was filed by Hellen Nakeeya, the former National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, who is challenging Ssekindi's victory in the January 15 parliamentary election. Ssekindi contested as an independent after opting out of the NRM primaries.

Appearing before Justice Bernard Namanya on Thursday, Nakeeya, who was the lead witness for the petitioner, told court that violence against her supporters on the eve of the election distracted her campaign and affected her performance.

She alleged that the election was also marred by vote rigging and other irregularities.