Politics
Electoral Commission dismisses Kikuube nomination petition
“In the light of the above observation, the commission under Min. comp. 74, 2026 found no merit in your petition and the same stands dismissed,” the ruling reads. According to the returning officer's decision, nominating Kisembo Paddy and Timanyire is upheld," the ruling reads.
Dr Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde, the NRM director of mobilisation and Paddy Kisembo Paddy dancing as they moved parish to parish for vote mobilization. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
By: Peter Abaanabasazi, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has cancelled Philp Mbabazi Burnet's petition, which he filed contesting the Nomination of NRM’s Paddy Kisembo and Fenekansi of the National Unity Platform (NUP) for the LCV by-election.
Kikuube district is preparing to hold an LCV by-election on June 18, following the death of the incumbent district chairperson, Peter Banura, in a car crash on April 4, 2026.
On Tuesday, 26th May 2026, Mbabazi, the son of General Matayo Kyaligonza, missed being nominated for the by-election after the electoral commission disqualified him over his failure to submit the required academic documents.
As a result, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) replaced Mbabazi with Paddy Kisembo, who had turned up to be nominated as an independent candidate.
However, on 2nd June 2026, through Okello Oryem & Co. Advocates, Mbabazi claims that the respondents failed to meet nomination requirements, alleging that the candidates did not submit lists containing the names of at least 50 registered voters from each sub-county of at least two-thirds of the electoral area, as required by law.
The petitioner further alleged that the candidates used similar voter names who supported their nomination papers.
This petition had put the NRM secretariat, Kikuube NRM leadership and candidates in tension as they feared that EC would rule otherwise.
However, on Thursday (June 11th), the EC issued a communication dismissing the petition.
The ruling dated 10th June 2026 and signed by Justice Simon Byabakama, the chairman of EC, indicated that the commissioner held meetings on the 1st and 10th of June 2026 and listened to complaints.
The petitioner further alleged that the candidates used similar voter names who supported their nomination papers.
This petition had put the NRM secretariat, Kikuube NRM leadership and candidates in tension as they feared that EC would rule otherwise.
However, on Thursday (June 11th), the EC issued a communication dismissing the petition.
The ruling dated 10th June 2026 and signed by Justice Simon Byabakama, the chairman of EC, indicated that the commissioner held meetings on the 1st and 10th of June 2026 and listened to complaints.
Women dance as they welcomed the NRM party flag bearer Paddy Kisembo to the campaigning venue in Kidoma village. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
"Upon hearing the complaint and considering the written submission of counsel of all parties together with the returning officer's report, the commission made the following declarations.
That you presented a Degree of Associate of Arts in Real Estate awarded by Los Angeles College, USA, to the returning officer for your nomination. However, you did not accompany the said degree certificate with a certificate from the National Council of Higher Education as requested under section 123 (4) and (5) of the Local Government Act.
That being said, going by the available evidence, the commission was satisfied that both Kisembo and Timanyire submitted the required number of supporters endorsing the respective nominations.
“In the light of the above observation, the commission under Min. comp. 74, 2026 found no merit in your petition and the same stands dismissed,” the ruling reads. According to the returning officer's decision, nominating Kisembo Paddy and Timanyire is upheld," the ruling reads.
Kisembo said that he was happy that the petition was dismissed, but demanded that the dismissal of the petition should not be the cause of the division among the people of Kikuube.
He noted that this is the time they should forget their differences and get unity for the good of the district and the party, adding that he is ready to work with all the people, despite their political and religious affiliations, to ensure better service delivery.
While addressing voters in Kikuube town council at BSC primary school, Dr Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) director of mobilisation, said that the cancellation of the petition is going to ease their campaign.
"We thank God for EC's decision, the ruling is going to ease our campaigns, now that EC has decided Kisembo as NRM candidate, our task as NRM is to mobilise our voters to support our candidate to ensure that we win the elections.
NRM Electoral Commission Commissioner Jane Alisemera called for unity among the party members and warned against ridiculing Burnet's group, saying that though they lost the petition, they remain NRM members.
She promised that as party leaders, they would find time to meet Burnet and his group to woo them to support the party flagbearer.
Timanyire said that he was not happy with the dismissal of the petition, saying that he thought the EC tribunal was going to cancel Kisembo's nomination and remain unopposed.
That you presented a Degree of Associate of Arts in Real Estate awarded by Los Angeles College, USA, to the returning officer for your nomination. However, you did not accompany the said degree certificate with a certificate from the National Council of Higher Education as requested under section 123 (4) and (5) of the Local Government Act.
That being said, going by the available evidence, the commission was satisfied that both Kisembo and Timanyire submitted the required number of supporters endorsing the respective nominations.
“In the light of the above observation, the commission under Min. comp. 74, 2026 found no merit in your petition and the same stands dismissed,” the ruling reads. According to the returning officer's decision, nominating Kisembo Paddy and Timanyire is upheld," the ruling reads.
Kisembo said that he was happy that the petition was dismissed, but demanded that the dismissal of the petition should not be the cause of the division among the people of Kikuube.
He noted that this is the time they should forget their differences and get unity for the good of the district and the party, adding that he is ready to work with all the people, despite their political and religious affiliations, to ensure better service delivery.
While addressing voters in Kikuube town council at BSC primary school, Dr Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) director of mobilisation, said that the cancellation of the petition is going to ease their campaign.
"We thank God for EC's decision, the ruling is going to ease our campaigns, now that EC has decided Kisembo as NRM candidate, our task as NRM is to mobilise our voters to support our candidate to ensure that we win the elections.
NRM Electoral Commission Commissioner Jane Alisemera called for unity among the party members and warned against ridiculing Burnet's group, saying that though they lost the petition, they remain NRM members.
She promised that as party leaders, they would find time to meet Burnet and his group to woo them to support the party flagbearer.
Timanyire said that he was not happy with the dismissal of the petition, saying that he thought the EC tribunal was going to cancel Kisembo's nomination and remain unopposed.