The State Minister for Defense, Rt Col Charles Okello Engola has been thrown out of Parliament and possibly Cabinet over change of names that affected the authenticity of his academic papers.
Lady Justice Jessica Naiga ruled at the Magistrate’s Court Lira on Tuesday that the alterations in the names of the minister invalidated his qualifications.
The curriculum vitae of the minister seen by ChimpReports has the name ‘Charles Peter Okello Engola’ while during campaigns the name presented to the Electoral Commission was Charles Okello Macodwogo.
He changed names and failed to swear an affidavit.
Col Okello was representing Oyam North Constituency for the first time and luckily scooped the Defence docket, replacing Gen Jeje Odongo who was elevated to a full minister and moved to Internal Affairs.
Okello defeated the renowned lawyer Chrispus Ayena who is currently hired by the International Criminal Court to defend the Lord’s Resistance Army commander Joseph Kony’s former deputy Dominic Ongwen on tens of counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Article 116 (b) (ii) of the Constitution provides that the office of a Minister shall become vacant if the holder becomes disqualified to be a Member of Parliament.
Ekanya wins
Meanwhile in Tororo the Forum for Democratic Change’s stalwart Geoffrey Ekanya won the election petition against the Tororo county Member of Parliament Annet Okwenye.
Ekanya dragged the EC and Okwenye to court over malpractice in the February elections.
The court ruled in favour of Ekanya after ascertaining that votes from two villages were not counted thus subsequently affecting the final outcome.