FDC’s former Bulamoji Constituency MP, aspirant, Simon Muyanga Lutaaya has called on Parliament to consider amending the election petition laws to put a maximum limit on costs awarded to case losers.
Muyanga, also talk show presenter is suffering a huge debt of Shs 296 million (not taxed) that was awarded to his opponent by the Court of Appeal after he lost the petition case to the NRM’s Kenneth Lubogo.
Lutaaya told the media in Najjanankumbi that the unwarranted costs are not only punishing the contestants but also used as a demobilising tool against losers.
“This is a new tool of demobilization, the regime in power is using the judicial arm to demobilize opposition politicians. There is a lot of trouble that people go through after losing election petitions,” Muyanga said.
He noted that the costs have been used to gag contestants from engaging in any politics and mobilizing for the next elections to concetrate on looking for the costs awarded by court.
“We should deal with this matter to its conclusion, a lot of people have been arrested for this money including Ministers like the former State Minister for Trade, Nelson Gagawala Wambuzi, who was bailed out by President Museveni”.
Muyanga remarked that a one Patrick Bamuhoire (NRM) from Budondo who was buried yesterday was committed to prison for 6 months after failing to pay Shs 56 million in an election petition. He died in prison three months after his jail sentence.
“We should have election petition costs limited to certain currency points like the case with some other laws because we can not look on while people are running out of the country, some languishing in prisons while others are now living poor health conditions,” Muyanga stated.
“Because election petitions are public interest cases, the laws must not be that punitive. Why must one serve a punishment for participating in elections, an exercise which is legal?” he wondered.
He dismissed allegations that he has already raised over Shs 200 million, but instead revealed that he has only collected Shs 5 million which he already handed over to Lubogo.