Minister denies bribing voters in campaigns

By Rachael Najjuma

31^st March 2022

The Security Minister, Retired Major General Jim Muhwezi has told the Court of Appeal in Kampala that he did not bribe anyone while conversing for votes in Rujumbura County Constituency in Rukungiri district.

Muhwezi was this Thursday appearing before a panel of three Court of Appeal Justices comprised of Cheborion Barishaki, Stephen Musota and Christopher Gashirabake for hearing of an election appeal filed against him.

The appeal was filed against Muhwezi by his rival Fred Turyamuhweza’ who lost the elections for the Rujumbura County seat. Turyamuhweza stood on a Forum for Democratic Change ticket.

Muhwezi of the National Resistance Movement obtained 23,990 votes against Turyamuhweza’s 20,556 votes in the January 14th, 2021 parliamentary elections. He was accordingly declared and gazetted as the winner by the Electoral Commission.

But, Turyamuhweza, rejected the results and petitioned the High Court in Kabale with his major grounds being voter bribery, ballot stuffing and intimidation of voters.

The Court heard that there was also a donation given out by Muhwezi in his election campaign period to churches, in several meetings and other public places such that they can vote him.

However, Justice Phillip Odoki dismissed the petition with costs stating that Turyamuhweza failed to prove to the satisfaction of the court all the grounds he had levied against Muhwezi.

Not happy with the decision through his lawyers led by Jude Byamukama, Turyamuhweza challenged Justice Odoki’s decision in the Court of Appeal on grounds that he had failed to evaluate the evidence on record thereby reaching a wrong conclusion that Muhwezi’s election was in compliance with the law.

When the matter came up for hearing today, Muhwezi through his lawyers led by Mwesigwa Rukutana asked court to dismiss an appeal against his victory on grounds that there is no evidence of bribery against his client.

At this point, Justice Barishaki the leader of the panel asked the former Deputy Attorney General Rukutana to define bribery.

According to Barishaki, the entire appeal against Muhwezi is majorly rotating on bribery allegations in several places including, churches, Meetings, funerals and other public places.

In response, Rukutana said that in election matters, bribery means a token given to people to influence voting in one’s favour and Council Byamukama, said once you give a condolence and after tell the mourners that ’don’t forget me ‘ it means that you influencing their decision making and therefore it’s a bribe although Rukutana still maintained in Court with together with his client Muhwezi that voters were not bribed.

The Justices then promised to deliver their judgment on notice.