[2007] UGHC 5

[2007] UGHC 5

The court found that the evidence did not support the respondents' claim that a recount was requested for Spidiqua A-K polling station. The only valid request was for Chairman's Place (Code 3), and the recount there was conducted. The first respondent's subsequent decision to order a second recount at Spidiqua A-K...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2007] UGHC 5
Parties
Applicant: Namuddu Hanifa; Respondent: The Returning Officer Kampala District; Respondent: Owembabazi Ritah Joy; Respondent: The Electoral Commission
Court
High Court of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Miscellaneous Cause No. 69 of 2006
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Cause / Ruling on Judicial Review Application
Outcome
application allowed
Legal Topics
Judicial Review, Vote Recount, Electoral Procedure, Certiorari, Mandamus
Source Language
en
Election Petitions Administrative Law Judicial Review Vote Recount Electoral Procedure Certiorari Mandamus

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Parties

Namuddu Hanifa

Applicant

The Returning Officer Kampala District

Respondent

Owembabazi Ritah Joy

Respondent

The Electoral Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Miscellaneous Cause / Ruling on Judicial Review Application

  1. 1 Whether the first respondent acted lawfully in ordering a second recount of votes at Spidiqua A-K polling station.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant is entitled to an order of certiorari quashing the decision for a second recount.
  3. 3 Whether the applicant is entitled to mandamus directing her declaration as winner based on the first recount.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the evidence did not support the respondents' claim that a recount was requested for Spidiqua A-K polling station. The only valid request was for Chairman's Place (Code 3), and the recount there was conducted. The first respondent's subsequent decision to order a second recount at Spidiqua A-K was illegal, irrational, and procedurally improper, as it was not based on a bona fide request and was inconsistent with prior communications. The court held that the applicant was entitled to certiorari quashing the second recount, mandamus directing her declaration as winner based on the first recount, and costs. The court declined to issue prohibition as the second recount...

Court Disposition

application allowed

Orders

  • A writ of certiorari is issued quashing the decision for a second recount at Spidiqua A-K polling station.
  • A mandamus order is issued directing the first and third respondents to declare the applicant, Namuddu Hanifa, as the duly elected woman councillor for Kisenyi I Parish based on the results after the recount at Chairman's Place polling station (Code 3) on 16th March 2006.