By John Ogulei
SOROTI
The Soroti High Court Resident Judge has today 10th March 2021 revised his earlier decision on the twisted Soroti City Boundaries.
On 29th November 2020, Soroti High Court Judge Justice Wilson Musalu Musene in a Miscellaneous Application filed by Enyau Michael, Onanyang Robert, Erienju Stephen, Ejelu Patrick and Omoding Brian against the Electoral Commission on the 18th September 2020 ruled that the two Wards of Aloet and Opiyai be taken to Soroti City West.
But in his today’s ruling that was delivered to a fully packed courtroom, Justice Musalu ordered that the earlier decision by Court was in error and court has revised its decision over the said boundaries.
The ruling was read in absence of Patrick Wateka, the lawyer representing Electoral Commission and Phiona Mirembe representing the five respondents.
According to Justice Musalu, the Court during the earlier application relied on wrong information that compelled the Court to decide mistakenly on the boundaries of Soroti City.
Justice Musalu in his ruling said that the earlier applications did not have enough information compared to the application for review filed by MP, Herbert Edmund Ariko.
The judge said, having gathered enough evidence and also obtained the copy of the published Uganda Gazette that clearly indicated that the areas of Aloet and Opiyai are in the East, he revised his earlier ruling.
The Uganda Gazette is the government owned publication that publishes all government gazettes, bylaws, laws and amendments before they are implemented.
The judge further in his revised ruling asked the Electoral Commission to follow the court’s revised decision but didn’t order for fresh elections and also asked both parties to share costs.
Ariko while speaking to the media after the court’s decision hailed God for guiding the judge who decided in his favor.
He was also quick to add that he wasn’t shaken if the Electoral Commission decides to set re-elections for Soroti City.
Ariko said he was defeated with a small margin and he is very sure that with the inclusion of his two strongholds, he will win the re-elections.
Meanwhile, Joan Alobo, the Soroti City Woman MP Elect has called for calm amongst supporters of both camps saying as FDC Party, they are stronger and ready to reclaim their victories if EC decides to conduct fresh elections for Soroti City.
“I want to call for calm amongst our voters in Soroti City and ask them to await what the Electoral Commission will decide,” Said Alobo.
If Electoral Commission respects court’s decision on Soroti City boundaries and holds fresh elections in Soroti City, wins for MPs Jonathan Ebwalu (Independent) of Soroti city West and Moses Okia Attan (FDC) and City division Mayors Paul Omer (FDC) Soroti City East and Peter Patrick Emaru (FDC) victories will be declared null and void.
