Three female aspirants for the Bukedea District Woman MP seat have accused Speaker of Parliament and incumbent Anita Among of using her influence to eliminate competition and secure an unchallenged return to Parliament.
The controversy arose after the names of the three candidates, Mercy Marion Alupo (National Unity Platform – NUP), Norma Susan Otai (Forum for Democratic Change – FDC), and Hellen Akol Odeke (National Resistance Movement – NRM) were removed from the national voters’ register.
According to rulings by parish tribunals in Bukedea District, the trio was disqualified on the grounds that they were not eligible voters in the sub-counties they claimed as their areas of origin.
However, Alupo of NUP rejected the tribunal’s findings, accusing the Bukedea District Electoral Commission of bias and political manipulation.
“What do you expect from an Electoral Commission where Zipporah’s husband works and the office operates from her building?. Last time, we saw how desperately she pushed to have Emorut appointed as an EC commissioner. System volongoto!”Alupo posted on X (formerly Twitter).
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, condemned the removal of the candidates, calling it an act of “blatant impunity.”
“These three women had the courage to challenge Anita Among, none of them was invited to any tribunal hearing. Even before the courts could address their case, the Electoral Commission met last week and struck them off the register. This is unprecedented.”Kyagulanyi said in a statement on Monday.
In response, Richard Kamugisha Baabo, Acting Secretary of the Electoral Commission, defended the Commission’s actions, stating that all decisions followed the legal process.
In an affidavit filed with the High Court, Baabo said the Commission had reviewed and upheld decisions from parish tribunals in Kopeta, Kolir, Kotolut, and Kidongole sub-counties, which recommended the removal of the candidates.
“The Commission upheld the tribunal decisions based on evidence presented by all parties involved,” he said, noting that the affected aspirants were given ten days to appeal but failed to do so.
With their names removed from the register, Speaker Anita Among now stands unopposed, potentially securing her return to Parliament for a second consecutive term without contest.
