High Court Clears Ariko as Soroti City East MP

The High Court in Soroti has dismissed with costs an election petition filed against the Soroti City East MP Herbert Edmund Ariko.

Moses Attan Okia, through his legal team JByamukama & co advocates, in an August 26 petition indicated that there were glaring malpractices, militarisation of the by-election, and detention of his party agents.
Attan lost to Ariko in the Soroti East By-election that was held on July 28.

Ms Christine Eyuu, the returning officer for Soroti City, who is also a respondent in the petition, on July 28, declared Mr Herbert Edmund Ariko of National Resistance Movement party as MP-elect for Soroti East Division having garnered 9,407 votes against Mr Attan’s 8,771. Mr Pascal Amuriat of Uganda Peoples Congress came a distant third with 115 votes.

The by-election came as a result of the Court of Appeal ruling in May which overturned the victory of Okia over the erroneous annexation of Aloet and Opiyai wards to Soroti City West Division.

The by-election was allegedly characterized by scenes of violence and irregularities in the polling saw Ariko win with 9,407 votes against Attan’s 8,771 votes.

Attan rejected the results and decided to petition the High Court arguing that the election was marred with grave irregularities including massive ballot stuffing, voter bribery, intimidation, and imprisonment of party leaders by the state machinery.

In his ruling Justice Musa Ssekana said that the petitioner failed to produce enough evidence enough to convince the judge.

He said that, there was evidence to show alleged irregularities on non complainance saying the petitioner was just trying to make a mountain of lies.

He added that, the petition filed against Ariko failed and therefore dismissed with costs.