The Court of Appeal in Kampala has confirmed Faith Philo Kunihira as the duly elected Woman Member of Parliament representing Kyenjonjo District.
Kunihira was confirmed on Friday in a decision made by Court of Appeal Justices Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi, Irene Mulyagonja and Christopher Gashirabake after dismissing with costs a petition by her rival and former MP Spellanza Baguma Muhenda.
This was the second time that the Appellate Court was making a decision on this dispute arising from the 2021 general elections.
The Electoral Commission announced in 2021 that Kunihira had won the seat for Kyenjojo District Woman Representative in Parliament with a margin of 23,611 votes, having obtained a total of 75,576 votes, while Muhenda was the runner-up having garnered a total of 51,965 votes.
But prior to victory, Muhenda had challenged Kunihira’s nomination on grounds of lack of minimum Academic Qualifications to be a legislator.
In their decision on Friday, the Court of Appeal ruled that this is a matter that ought to be determined by way of a complaint to the Electoral Commission, being the Constitutionally and statutory prescribed forum for determination of pre-election complaints. The court has also indicated that upon determination of the complaint or otherwise by the Electoral Commission, Muwenda ought to have filed an appeal to the High Court not a petition.
According to the evidence before Court, Kunihira holds a UCE certificate, a Diploma in Business Studies obtained after UCE, a certificate in Computer Studies, an Advanced Diploma in Project Management and a Doctor of Ministry, USA.
