Court Halts Kassanda South Vote Recount Over Missing Ballot Seal Records

A planned recount of votes for the Kassanda South parliamentary election has been halted by the High Court in Mubende. The suspension occurred after parties involved in the election petition could not produce records detailing the seals placed on ballot boxes post-election.

Justice Mary Babirye made the decision to suspend the exercise following an objection raised by the legal team representing Hajj Abdul Bisaso, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate. His lawyers argued that they had not received the required documentation to confirm the integrity of the seals affixed to the ballot boxes.

The court premises were under heavy security, with convoys delivering ballot boxes early in the morning. Security personnel were seen screening individuals, including former MP Frank Kabuye and Deputy Registrar Rogers Kinobe, before granting them access. Regional police commanders were also present, with police spokesperson Lameck Kigozi stating the heavy deployment was a response to intelligence suggesting potential disruptions.

During the court session, considerable tension arose as legal representatives debated whether the recount should proceed without the seal records. Harunah Ssewaya, counsel for Bisaso, insisted on the examination of documentation as per a prior court ruling, emphasizing the need to ascertain who handled the materials at the Electoral Commission.

Conversely, Caleb Alaka, representing independent candidate Eria Mubiru, argued against the objection, suggesting it was an attempt to challenge a previous court decision in bad faith. Electoral Commission lawyer Eric Ssabiiti indicated that relevant details were contained within his report on the election.

Justice Babirye directed all parties to present documentation pertaining to the ballot box seals within a ten-minute window. However, upon the failure to produce the required records, the judge was compelled to halt the recount. Bisaso and his legal team welcomed the ruling, expressing concerns that the seals on the ballot boxes appeared different from those they had received, raising questions about the chain of custody of election materials as stipulated by the Parliamentary Elections Act.

Source: Nile Post