Court maintains Nakweede and Baleke victories in Kayunga
Birungi sought the court's approval for a vote recount, arguing that she had won the seat, but results from 104 polling stations were not included on the final tally sheet that was used to declare Nakweede as the winner.
Harriet Nakweede, the Kayunga district woman MP-elect. (Photo by Charles Jjuuko)
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The Kayunga Chief Magistrates Court has dismissed two election petitions filed by losers in the concluded parliamentary elections that were conducted on January 15, 2026.
Jackline Birungi Kobusingye of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for the district woman MP seat ran to court protesting the victory of Harriet Nakweede (NUP).
The district returning officer, Dagalous Twine, had declared Nakweede winner with 20,753 votes, followed by the incumbent MP, Idah Erios Nantaba (Independent) with 16,138 votes, while Burungi (petitioner) in the third position got 1,5790 votes.
Other contestants were ranked lower
Agatha Nalubeama (Independent) got 1,072, Margaret Babirye (Independent) got 535 votes, Teddy Bukirwa (Independent) got 137 votes, FDC's Brenda Nakaddu got 134 votes, and Shakirah Nakayiza (Independent) in last position got 104 votes.
Birungi sought the court's approval for a vote recount, arguing that she had won the seat, but results from 104 polling stations were not included on the final tally sheet that was used to declare Nakweede as the winner.
The Kayunga court Chief Magistrate, John Francis Kaggwa, on Tuesday had a marathon hearing of all the two election petitions, and he promised the parties involved to give his ruling on Wednesday.
In his ruling, Kaggwa said the petitioner failed to produce substantive evidence to back her claim, and the court found it fit to dismiss the case with no costs.
"Court here by dismisses the application and each party will meet its own costs incurred in hearing the application," Kaggwa said before a packed courtroom.
The magistrate, however, advised the losers to file an election petition in the high court if they were not content with the court decision.
The ruling attracted jubilation from Nakweede's supporters, who sang and danced.
Nakweede, escorted by Iganga municipality MP elect, Abed Nasser Mudyobole (NUP) was represented in court by her lawyer Andrew Wabwezi from Waka and company advocates, while Birungi was represented by her lawyer Martin Tusingwire.
Nakweede hailed the court for giving justice, saying the people of Kayunga had given her the mandate to represent them in the 12th Parliament. Birungi could not be reached for a comment about the court ruling.
Fred Baseke (NRM), the Ntenjeru South MP-elect. (Photo by Charles Jjuuko)
In the same court, the Ntenjeru South MP, Patrick Nsanja, who contested for the seat on the NUP ticket but lost to NRM's Fred Baseke, also filed a petition in the same court seeking a vote recount.
The appeal was rejected, giving Baseke yet another victory.
Outside the Court, heavily armed policemen and army officers looked on as the winners celebrated their double victory.