FDC’s Wanzala retains Butembe; court dismisses Kabondo poll petition
Justice Vincent Wagona, in a judgment delivered on November 12, 2026, declared Kiirya validly elected in the 15th/Jan/2026 parliamentary elections and ordered petitioner Jacob Kabondo to pay costs to both the MP and the Electoral Commission.
Grace Kiirya Wanzala (C) during one of the court hearings at the Jinja High Court last month. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)
JINJA - The High Court in Jinja has dismissed an election petition challenging the victory of Butembe County Member of Parliament Grace Kiirya Wanzala, ruling that allegations of voter bribery were not sufficiently proved.
Justice Vincent Wagona, in a judgment delivered on November 12, 2026, declared Kiirya validly elected in the 15th/Jan/2026 parliamentary elections and ordered petitioner Jacob Kabondo to pay costs to both the MP and the Electoral Commission.
Kabondo, who contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, had petitioned the court seeking to nullify Kiirya’s victory, accusing him of bribing voters with money, plastic chairs and household items during the campaigns.
The petitioner alleged that Kiirya, who contested on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket, personally distributed money and other gifts to voters in several villages in Busede sub-county, including Namazala, Nabirama, Kaliro-Bupupa, Kisirira and Wantunda. He also accused the MP's campaign agents of distributing cash, saucepans and melamine plates to influence voters.
However, Justice Wagona ruled that the petitioner failed to establish the essential ingredients of bribery, particularly proof that the alleged gifts were actually given by Kiirya or persons acting with his knowledge, consent or approval.
Wanzala (R) and his lawyer Medard Lubega Ssegona. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)
In one incident at Kisirira village, witnesses differed on who received the alleged sh500, 000/- with some identifying Alex Tagaba while another named a woman identified as Harriet.
The court also noted inconsistencies regarding the purchase and delivery of plastic chairs, while photographs presented as evidence did not establish when, where or by whom the chairs had been delivered.
Justice Wagona further observed that the MP had provided a defence placing him in Kakira sub-county during some of the alleged incidents.
On allegations involving campaign agents, the judge said the petitioner had failed to establish that the individuals who allegedly distributed money and other items were authorised by Kiirya or acted with his knowledge and approval.
The court also rejected the respondents' objection seeking to have the petitioner's supporting affidavits struck out over alleged defects in their translation certificates.
Justice Wagona ruled that the omission of the translator's address was a curable irregularity of form and did not warrant expunging the affidavits.
However, two affidavits belonging to witnesses Livingstone Malinzi Isooba and Moses Muberwa had earlier been expunged after the petitioner failed to produce them for cross-examination.
Kiirya had been declared the winner with 6,215 votes against Kabondo's 5,790, giving him a majority of 425 votes.
In his final orders, Justice Wagona dismissed the petition, upheld Kiirya's election and ordered Kabondo to pay costs to the MP and the Electoral Commission.