Court to decide on Nakaseke Woman MP petition on November 10
Nakawooya argues that the election was marred by gross irregularities and failed to comply with the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Court to decide on Nakaseke Woman MP petition on November 10
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The High Court in Luwero has fixed November 10, as the date for passing the judgment in a petition filed by National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Esther Nakawooya, who is challenging the election of Sarah Najjuma as the Nakaseke Woman Member of Parliament.
When the case came up for hearing before visiting High Court judge Vincent Mugabo on Wednesday (September 30), the judge directed Najjuma, a National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, to file her submissions by October 10. Justice Mugabo also ordered that responses should be filed by October 20, and rejoinders by October 23.
In her petition, Nakawooya wants the High Court to nullify Najjuma's election, citing a series of irregularities during the January 15 elections.
Nakawooya's petition came after the Nakaseke District Returning Officer declared Najjuma the winner with 55,455 votes against Nakawooya's 26,873 votes.
The Electoral Commission later updated the final certified tally in the Uganda Gazette, showing that Najjuma got 56,151 votes, while Nakawooya garnered 27,156 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Nakawooya, through Alaka and company advocates, petitioned the High Court in Luweero in March 2026.
Nakawooya argues that the election was marred by gross irregularities and failed to comply with the Parliamentary Elections Act.
She states that the Electoral Commission issued two different declaration of results certificates with varying figures, raising questions about figure manipulation.
Nakawooya contests the fact that voting from 28 polling stations recorded a 100 percent voter turnout and that all votes were cast exclusively for the NRM candidate.
The petitioner alleges that names of deceased persons remained on the register and were recorded as having voted.
She also cites forged signatures of NUP polling agents and identical handwriting patterns across several declaration forms.
Najjuma's defence
In her defence, Najjuma dismissed Nakawooya's claims and urged the High Court to dismiss the petition. According to Najjuma, the petition is incompetent and legally flawed, adding that alleged irregularities did not materially affect the final election results given the wide margin of her victory.
Najjuma also argues that the petitioner failed to provide concrete evidence that the cited individuals were actually deceased or that any voter turnout anomalies uniquely disadvantaged her (Nakawooya).
Nakawooya's lawyer, Caleb Alaka, told the court that the two parties had agreed on the facts and issues for determining the case
The parties also agreed to rely on documentary evidence and written submissions, instead of calling witnesses.
After hearing from both sides, Justice Mugabo set November 10 as the date on which he will issue his judgement in the matter. He said the judgement is to be delivered electronically through the electronic court case management information system.
The same court also fixed November 6, as the ruling date of a case in which the election victory of Luwero woman MP, Brenda Nabukenya, is being challenged by her NRM rival, Agnes Kirabo.