Gloria Orwoba Denied Senate Entry Despite Court Order

Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba was denied entry to the Senate this morning, despite presenting official documents reinstating her position following a tribunal ruling.

Orwoba arrived at Parliament with identification and orders from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), asserting her right to return to the Senate. Security officers blocked her at the gate, prompting a confrontation captured on video, where she stated she was acting in accordance with a court decision. 

“I am here to go back to work as per the court’s instructions,” she said, urging officers to arrest her if they believed she was in the wrong.

The standoff followed the PPDT’s 20 August ruling, which overturned Orwoba’s expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The tribunal, chaired by Desma Nungo, found the party’s disciplinary process flawed, citing unsigned and undated complaints, lack of formal notification, and the absence of a fair hearing. As a result, the expulsion was declared invalid.

Orwoba’s removal from UDA had led to the loss of her Senate seat and the swearing-in of Consolata Wakwabubi as her replacement. That replacement is now in question, pending further legal interpretation of the tribunal’s decision.

UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar defended the party’s disciplinary action, stating it was conducted in line with the UDA constitution and approved by the National Executive Committee. The party argued that the matter was sub judice due to a separate High Court petition filed by Orwoba. 

However, the tribunal rejected this claim, confirming it had jurisdiction and noting the absence of overlapping legal proceedings.