BY Angel Lubowa
MASAKA
KALUNGU West member of parliament ,Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu’s win in last week polls hangs in balance after court ordered for a vote recount.
The order followed a petition by the second run up, Ismail Ssemakula who accuses Ssewungu of stealing his win.
Ssewungu aNUP candidate gunned 10106 voters while Ssemakula an Independent recieved 10060 votes a difference of 46 votes only. The NRM candidate Twaha Kiganda got 2211 votes.
However Ssemakula a first contender in the cinstituency alleged that Ssewungu cheated massively and asked for a recount.
But in fully parked court, Ssewungu asked court to dismiss the petition . He said Masaka court lacked jurisidiction and that the petion was filled late.
But giving his judgement after a brief adjournment, the Masaka chief magistrate, Herbert Asiimwe ruled in Ssemakula’s favour.
He said as the chief magistrate he had powers over court in Kalungu court which falls under his jurisdiction giving Ssewungu a first blow.
He added that the case was in time since the law emphasized the recount to take place with in four days after filing and the the order of court. He then ordered for a recount.
” The counting will be done on Friday under the supervision of Kalungu magistrate. Voting was Thursday last week and Friday was a public holiday followed by a weekend and tommorrow is another voting day for mayors and local government” said the magistrate.
But analysts were querring why Ssewungu was so much in fear of a recount if he was sure to have won genuinely.
” Why should Ssewungu be fighting to block a recount unless he wants to confirm he is not sure of his win? ” one asked.
Ssewungu has served three terms in parluament having joined the House in 2011 as a DP .He bounced back in 2016 and in 2021 this time under NUP and he is fighting for a fourth term but Ssemakula is determined to fault him.