Court upholds Bulamogi MP’s election
The judge found no credible evidence to establish that the results had been forged or altered.
Court upholds Bulamogi MP’s election
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The High Court in Iganga has upheld the election of Bulamogi County Member of Parliament Benard Mutebi Mugoya after dismissing a petition challenging his victory in the January 2026 general elections.
Justice Patience Rubagumya dismissed the petition filed by Sanon Bwiire Nadeeba, who had challenged Mugoya’s academic qualifications, alleged alteration of election results, and cited several electoral offences. Nadeeba has sued Mugoya together with the Electoral Commission.
The judge awarded costs of the petition to Mugoya and the Electoral Commission.
In her judgment delivered on November 9, 2026, Justice Rubagumya ruled that Nadeeba had failed to prove any of the grounds as required under Section 80(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, so as to set aside the election.
The judge noted that Mugoya was declared winner with 29,268 votes against Nadeeba’s 21,498 votes, giving the latter majority votes of 7,770.
Nadeeba had argued that Mugoya was not qualified to contest because his academic documents carried different names and dates of birth. He also questioned the duration of Mugoya’s National Certificate in Information and Communication Technology course.
The judge noted that another voter, Faruku Basule, had earlier raised similar concerns with the Electoral Commission, which dismissed the complaint on January 10, 2026. Nadeeba did not demonstrate that the decision had been appealed.
The judge also found that Nadeeba had admitted during cross-examination that he did not inspect Mugoya’s nomination papers.
On the alleged alteration of results at 54 polling stations, the court found that Nadeeba relied on uncertified declaration of results forms to compare figures with those on the certified forms.
Rubagumya ruled that the uncertified documents were inadmissible as evidence of the alleged alterations. She also noted that the certified forms bore signatures of presiding officers and the petitioner’s agents, with no complaints recorded on them.
The judge found no credible evidence to establish that the results had been forged or altered.
However, the court established that results from Universal Apostles Church polling station in Namwiwa Parish had not been tallied after the announcement of results was disrupted and declaration forms were taken.
The polling station had 315 registered voters. Evidence from the presiding officer indicated that Nadeeba had received 287 votes, while Mugoya got nine, Kenneth Lubogo got one vote, and Godfrey Muyodi garnered two votes. One vote was invalid.
The judge ruled that although this amounted to non-compliance with the electoral process, it did not substantially affect the outcome because Mugoya’s winning margin was 7,770 votes.
The court also rejected allegations of ballot stuffing, violence, bribery, campaigning on polling day, personation and obstruction of voters and election officials.
Nadeeba had accused Mugoya of giving money to groups at Muna Secondary School and Kaliro Church grounds to influence voters. The judge found that there was no cogent evidence to establish that the alleged payments were made or that the people said to have received the money were registered voters.
The judge further found that allegations that Mugoya made defamatory statements describing Nadeeba as a thief, killer and womaniser were not proved. The words had not been pleaded verbatim, and no supporting evidence was presented.
On claims that public officers campaigned for Mugoya, the court found no evidence that the officers named in the petition solicited votes or used public resources to support his candidature.
Justice Rubagumya concluded that Nadeeba had not proved that Mugoya personally committed an electoral offence or that any offence was committed with his knowledge, consent or approval.
The judge said the petition could not be decided on suspicion but on cogent evidence.
She consequently dismissed the petition, confirmed Mugoya’s election as the directly elected MP for Bulamogi County Constituency in Kaliro District and awarded costs to the respondents.