Butembe poll petition: Court fixes dates as NRM's Kabondo parades 25 witnesses
The case has been fixed for hearing on September 29, 2026, before Justice Vincent Wagona, where Medard Lubega Ssegona, along with Dr Julius Galisonga, represent Wanzala.
Medard Lubega Ssegona (R) with his client, Grace Paddy Kiirya Wanzala (in blue suit) after the Jinja high court fixing the commencement date for hearing the petition challenging his victory on Wednesday. (Photos by Jackie Nambogga)
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A former candidate in the Butembe county parliamentary race in Jinja district, Jacob Kabondo has lined up 25 witnesses, including himself to withdraw the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) winner from the House.
Kabondo, a second-time contestant in the race on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag, filed a petition at the Jinja High Court accusing Grace Paddy Kiirya Wanzala of bribery during campaigns and vote cheating on the polling day.
He also accuses the Electoral Commission of failing to conduct a free and fair exercise, which led to his defeat.
The petitioner’s lead counsel, Tonny Tumukunde, along with Joseph Balikuddembe and George Lukago, described the cases as grave, saying they were ready to defend the NRM vote.
On the other hand, Wanzala has also paraded 28 witnesses to retain his seat, which he had been losing for the last four consecutive general election races.
The case has been fixed for hearing on September 29, 2026, before Justice Vincent Wagona, where Medard Lubega Ssegona, along with Dr Julius Galisonga, represent Wanzala.
Jacob Kabondo
Others in the race were Maria Nnatabi Ledochowska (NUP), Hannington Basakana (ANT), and Charles Sande Kabule, Shaban Okumu, Kenneth Muwanika Mukulu, Abel Kapyate, as well as Ibrahim Mandwa, all independents who got 2,028, 155, 3,724, 4,798, 89, 130 and 101 votes, respectively.
On Wednesday, September 24, while interacting with the media, Ssegona said that the two parties would be coming up with a joint scheduling memorandum document detailing the witnesses to be agreed upon for cross-examination and those whom they would not disagree upon.
However, he said the disputed facts were whether the allegations were true, whether they conform to the law, and if the petitioner was entitled to any remedy.
On the September 29, 2026, both parties would be briefing the presiding judge at the mention and commencement of the petition on their position.
Ssegona explained how the judge advised both parties to explore what he termed as an ‘amicable resolution’, saying their client, Wanzala, remains available in case of such suggestion since he represents Kabondo as well.
According to schedule, Kabondo would be the first to appear in the witness box and Ssegona urged him to brace for serious questions related to his supporters’ affidavits.
“The case has been scheduled, and we are preparing for the hearing; we shall be asking the witnesses to explain what they saw during campaigns and on the polling day during the cross-examination,” Ssegona said.
Also, he said they were technically challenging the validity of the petitioner’s evidence because of the manner in which his supporters’ affidavits were extracted.
Besides the commencement day, the judge announced five more days to proceed with the case from the 12th to 16th of October 2026.