Katakwi district woman MP retains seat
By Ruth Anderah
Katakwi district woman MP Violet Akurut has retained her seat after the Court of Appeal overturned the Soroti High court decision which had nullified her election on grounds that she never resigned her public service position as a commissioner with the Uganda Human Rights Commission.
Three Court of Appeal judges jled by the Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma have faulted Justice David Wangutusi for wrongly applying the law when he treated Akurut as a public servant who should have resigned her position 90 days before presenting herself for nomination yet commissioners are not public servants.
The justices have stressed that Akurut is not an employee of the Human Rights Commission and therefore not a public servant.
The court has now confirmed Akurut as the Katakwi district woman MP and ordered that she recovers costs of the petition from Simon Peter Emorut, a voter who petitioned the High court challenging her election.
