By Priscah Atuhaire,
MBARARA:
It was stream tears in the court room at Mbarara High Court after former Ishaka-Bushenyi municipality MP, Odo Tayebwa learned that three of his witnesses in a petition challenging Derrick Kabuura’s election had been kidnapped and missing in court.
The trio whose identity still remains a mystery were part of the twelve witnesses who were expected to testify on the side of Odo Tayebwa.
According to Frank Kandiho, the lead counsel in Odo Tayebwa case, the petitioner was supposed to present 12 witnesses to court, but to their dismay, only 9 turned up and it was later established that the three were kidnapped on their way from Kampala.
Upon recieving the news, Odo Tayebwa broke into tears inside court but he was crying over spilled milk since his legal team had only yesterday to complete their submission and wait for cross examination of the respondent side.
In the petition, Odo Tayebwa, FDC, wants court to nullify the election of Derrick Kabuura as MP for Ishaka Budhenyi municipality on grounds of voter bribery, and other election irregularities.
Yesterday, the High Court in Mbarara presided over by Justuce Moses Kazibwe commenced on the hearing of Odo Tayebwa case against his rival Derrick Kabuura.
Nine witnesses testified on side of Odo Tayebwa and the hearing was adjourned to Thursday September 2, (today) at 8:30AM , to allow the respondent side submit their defence.
Geoffrey Kandeebe, the lead for MP Derrick Kabuura accuse the petitioner (Odo Tayebwa) of duplicating witnesses in their petition.
He says seven of the nine presented witnesses in the case were the same people whom Odo Tayebwa used in his 2016 petition against Arinda Gordon alias Cow Boy.
Kandeebe vowed to defend their victory noting that their client was legally elected than alleged by the petitioner.
By the time of compiling this story, the hearing of the petition was ongoing at the High Court in Mbarara as Derrick Kabuura legal team presents their defence.
