Grief has befallen members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), following the passing of former Busiro South MP Charles Matovu on Thursday night.
The Party President Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine confirmed his demise, eulogising him as a brother, comrade and fellow leader on social media platform X.
“Just received very disturbing news concerning the abrupt passing of our brother, comrade and fellow leader, Hon. Charles Matovu, who served as Member of Parliament for Busiro South in the last Parliamentary term and had his victory robbed on gunpoint in the January election. Very shocking news!May God strengthen all of us” he posted.
The NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya, said he had checked on Matovu in the morning at Lubaga Hospital who was critically sick, and was informed by his that he got an abrupt health challenge on Monday night.
“When I saw him today, he couldn’t speak or open his eyes although he was still alive but struggling to wake up. From Lubaga, he was transferred to Mulago Hospital for further investigations. Most unfortunately, he passed on a short while ago. It is VERY SHOCKING” he posted on X.
Matovu’s death comes at a time when the High Court in Entebbe had commenced the hearing of a petition in which he challenges the election of NRM’s Kenan Opio.
Prior to the trial, the court presided over by Hon. Justice Jamson Karemani, dismissed his application against the Electoral Commission for discovery of election materials, which it used to declare to declare the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Mr Kenan Opio as the Busiro South, Member of Parliament.
In the petition, Matovu sought the commission to produce the official report book, tamper proof declaration of result forms, accountability of ballot paper forms, presidential elections declaration of Results forms for the Electoral Area of Busiro County South, official report book DR Forms, printout of scanner report, certified DR forms of 102 polling stations in Nkumba Ward, Kisubi Ward and Kitala ward and certified DR forms of 58 polling stations.
Matovu argued that the inspection of the documents would assist the court to come to a proper determination of his original petition against the current MP Opio, and the Electoral commission in which he alleges that there was non-compliance with the electoral laws, which affected the election and prayed that the said election to be set aside.
However Justice Karemani, dismissed the application outlining several grounds noting that Matovu didn’t specify whether the documents requested for belonged to the whole constituency or for certain parishes or certain polling station which qualified it to be a fishing expedition.
