High Court dismisses Aringa county election petition, confirms Ezama
The Aringa County Parliamentary Election Petition was filed by Ashirafu Tairi, who contested for the seat on the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) ticket, against Ezama, the National Resistance Movement candidate. Tairi sued Ezama alongside the Electoral Commission.
The High Court in Arua has dismissed a petition filed by Ashirafu Tairi, challenging the election of Siraji Brahan Ezama as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Aringa County in Yumbe District. (Credit: Adam Gule)
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The High Court in Arua has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Siraji Brahan Ezama as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Aringa County in Yumbe District, bringing to an end a legal challenge that questioned the conduct and outcome of the January 15, 2026 election.
The Aringa County Parliamentary Election Petition was filed by Ashirafu Tairi, who contested for the seat on the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) ticket, against Ezama, the National Resistance Movement candidate. Tairi sued Ezama alongside the Electoral Commission.
The ruling was delivered on October 5, 2026, by Arua High Court Judge Justice Celia Nagawa.
According to the 71-page judgment notice, the petition arose from the election of the directly elected Member of Parliament for Aringa County held on January 15, 2026.
The election attracted five candidates, including Tairi, Ezama, Gadafi Chandiga, Ashiraf Noah Olega and Habib Amin Tibirichu.
The Yumbe District Returning Officer declared Ezama the winner after he obtained 6,541 votes against Tairi's 5,684 votes. The results were later gazetted on March 2, 2026.
However, Tairi challenged the results, alleging that Ezama, personally or through his agents, committed illegal practices and election offences during the election.
He further alleged that Ezama's agents and other persons acting with his knowledge, consent or approval perpetrated acts of violence and intimidation against him and his supporters.
The petitioner also accused the Electoral Commission of failing to discharge its constitutional and statutory duty of organising and conducting a free and fair election in accordance with electoral laws.
Ezama and the Electoral Commission opposed the petition and denied the alleged breaches of electoral laws.
The respondents maintained that the election was conducted in accordance with the Constitution and applicable electoral laws.
They further argued that even if any non-compliance with electoral laws was proved, it did not substantially affect the outcome of the election.
In her judgment, Justice Nagawa dismissed the petition in its entirety. The judge also confirmed the election of Ezama as the Member of Parliament for Aringa County.
The judge ordered that each party bear its own costs, citing the public interest nature of the election petition and the fact that Tairi and Ezama are cousins.
The judge said the decision was also informed by the need for post-election reconciliation between the parties and their supporters.
She noted that the two candidates came from the same constituency and that the election was decided by a margin of 857 votes.
Justice Nagawa called on the electorate to heal from the divisions that may have arisen during the election period.
" Both parties hail from the same constituency. With a vote margin of 857, the electorate should heal," the judgment stated.
She further observed that ordering costs against the petitioner could breed animosity and hinder reconciliation.
Tairi confirmed to New Vision online that he had received a copy of the judgment notice.
However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the procedure through which the ruling was delivered, claiming that the ruling had been scheduled for October 8, in a formal court session.
"It's true I received a judgment notice through my lawyer. However, I am not satisfied with the judgement because we were told the ruling was going to be on October 8. I am yet to understand what happened," he said.
Efforts to speak to Ezama for a comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer repeated calls.