By our reporter
Court Halts Kalungu West Vote Recount Over Tampered Ballot Boxes
The High Court has halted the ongoing vote recount for the Kalungu West parliamentary election after discovering serious irregularities involving ballot boxes submitted for the exercise.
During proceedings, the court established that six ballot boxes had been tampered with, while the origin of one additional ballot box could not be verified. The presiding judge ruled that continuing with the recount under such circumstances would undermine the credibility of the judicial process and the integrity of the election materials.
The anomalies were reportedly identified during verification of the ballot boxes, where discrepancies were noted in seals, documentation, and the chain of custody. These findings prompted objections from parties involved in the election petition, leading the court to suspend the recount with immediate effect.
The recount had been ordered as part of an election petition challenging the results of the Kalungu West parliamentary race. However, the newly uncovered irregularities have cast doubt on whether the recount can proceed or whether alternative legal remedies will be considered.
The court is expected to issue further directions on the way forward, including whether the affected ballot boxes will be excluded, the recount restarted, or the matter determined through other evidentiary means.
The development adds to growing legal uncertainty surrounding the Kalungu West election, as candidates and voters await the court’s final decision on the disputed outcome.