Judiciary starts hearing election petitions September 14
The Judiciary said judges designated to handle the petitions, including those temporarily posted to various High Court circuits and the Civil Division, are required to take up their assignments during the specified period.
The Judiciary building in Kampala. (File)
__________________
The Judiciary will start hearing election petitions arising from the 2026 general elections on September 14, 2026, with the exercise scheduled to run until November 13.
According to an administrative circular dated September 2, 2026, judges designated to handle the petitions will hear and determine the cases during the two-month period.
The circular, addressed to all judges assigned to handle election petitions, indicates that several petitions arising from the general elections are pending before the High Court.
The Judiciary said judges designated to handle the petitions, including those temporarily posted to various High Court circuits and the Civil Division, are required to take up their assignments during the specified period.
“The hearing and handling of the election petitions shall commence on Monday, September 14, 2026, and the exercise shall run up to Friday, November 13, 2026,” the circular states in part.
The Judiciary directed the assigned judges to give election petitions priority over all other matters during the period set aside for the exercise.
The judges have also been instructed to set aside their ordinary judicial duties and proceed to the respective High Court circuits or the Civil Division where they have been temporarily posted.
They have also been directed to give the election petitions their full attention and avoid engagements that may interfere with the hearing programme.
Petitions
Several MPs whose victories are being challenged include former trade minister Amelia Anne Kyambadde for the Mawokota County seat, Luweero Woman MP Agnes Kirabo Nantongo and Buvuma District Woman MP Judith Nagujja.
Mpigi
Musician-turned-politician Innocent Hillary Kiyaga, also known as Dr Hilderman, an independent candidate, filed an election petition against NRM candidate Amelia Anne Kyambadde, challenging her victory in the Mawokota County seat in Mpigi District.
He filed the petition at the High Court in Mpigi.
Kyambadde won the election with 27,075 votes, while Kiyaga came second with 24,801 votes.
Kiyaga contends that there was illegal alteration of election documents and Declaration of Results Forms at more than 25 polling stations, including Buyiga playground, Ggunda Primary School, Tribogo Primary School and Bulamu Church of Uganda Primary School.
Kiyaga asserts that the Declaration of Results Forms from the stated polling stations were illegally altered to reduce his votes by 923 and inflate those of Kyambadde by 9,133 votes.
Kayunga
NRM's Jackline Birungi Kobusingye also filed an election petition at the High Court in Mukono, challenging the victory of NUP's Harriet Nakweede as Kayunga district MP.
Nakweede emerged as the winner of the Kayunga District MP election with 38,547 votes, while Kobusingye came second with 37,246 votes.
Kobusingye contends that the Electoral Commission returning officer failed to count and omitted to include results from four polling stations. They include Bugerere High S.S [NAM-Z], Kakiika Parents' Primary School [Kakiika B], Kangulumira C/U P/S [MBNAL] and Kasambya Umea [A-M].
“The winning margin of 1,301 votes is reduced by the petitioner’s 667 votes arising out of the polling stations which were not tallied and included by the Electoral Commission,” Kobusingye contends.
Buvuma
In the High Court in Lugazi, NUP's Susan Mugabi is challenging the victory of NRM's Judith Nagujja as Buvuma District Woman MP.
Mugabi also claims that votes from 41 polling stations were altered, alleging that 6,229 illegal votes were added to Nagujja's tally.
NRM's Agnes Kirabo Nantongo is challenging the victory of Democratic Party (DP) candidate Brenda Nabukenya for the Luwero District Woman MP seat. She filed the election petition at the High Court in Luweero.
Nabukenya emerged as the winner with 67,399 votes, while Nantongo garnered 55,696 votes.
Nantongo asserts that during the tallying of results at the district tally centre, the Electoral Commission returning officer did not read the results from each polling station, denying candidates an opportunity to compare them with their respective Declaration of Results Forms.
The petitioner contends that the declaration disregarded the actual votes cast and counted at the polling stations and instead conferred victory upon Nabukenya, who did not win the election.
Nakaseke
In Nakaseke district, NUP's Esther Nakawooya is challenging the victory of NRM's Sarah Najjuma for the Woman MP seat.
Najjuma emerged as the winner with 56,151 votes, while Nakawooya, who came second, obtained 27,156 votes.
Nakawooya claims that there was ballot pre-ticking, ballot stuffing, multiple voting and inflated votes, resulting in 100% or 99% voter turnout, contrary to Sections 66, 72, 77, 80, 96 and 97(f) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
She said some of the polling stations where such incidents allegedly occurred include Kyamaweno, Ngoma Playground, Gombolola HQS [A-M], Ngoma B and Kalule, Gomero Ngoma East Ward, Kinooni Primary School and Kyabigulu.
Wakiso
In an election petition filed at the High Court in Wakiso, NRM's Abdu Kiyimba is challenging the victory of National Unity Platform's Emmanuel Magoola Matovu for the Busiro County East parliamentary seat.
During the election, Matovu obtained 45,625 votes, while Kiyimba received 28,499 votes.
Kiyimba contends that during the tallying of results, the returning officer did not read the results from each polling station, denying candidates an opportunity to compare them with their respective Declaration of Results Forms.
He said the declaration disregarded the actual votes cast and counted at the polling stations and instead conferred victory upon Matovu.
Busiro South
Joseph Kayemba has also filed an election petition in the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala against Busiro South MP-elect Kenan Opio, the Electoral Commission, Team University and NRM.
Kayemba asserts that Opio was wrongly and illegally nominated because he lacked the minimum academic qualification required to contest for the position of Member of Parliament for Busiro South Constituency.
He contends that Opio presented only two academic documents during his nomination, namely the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and a diploma awarded by Team University in Uganda on May 30, 2025.
He seeks an order compelling Team University to release details about the diploma document presented to the Electoral Commission, particularly the admission records, transcript and graduation list.
Soroti
Soroti City Woman MP-elect Joan Achom Alobo of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is also facing a court petition challenging her victory in the January 15, 2026 elections.
The petition was filed at the High Court in Soroti by her closest rival, NRM's Sarah Inachu, who accuses Alobo and the Electoral Commission of presiding over an election marred by irregularities.
Inachu states that she came second in a race involving five candidates, polling 10,085 votes, while Alobo was declared the winner with 19,040 votes.
Inachu alleges that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct a free and fair election, accusing the returning officer of unlawfully declaring Alobo the winner despite what she claims were flawed results.
Tororo
On March 9, Sarah Achieng Opendi also filed an election petition challenging the victory of her successor, Angella Akoth.
Akoth, an advocate of the High Court, beat Opendi by a margin of 35 votes after garnering 78,542 votes against Opendi's 78,507.
Kalungu
Ismael Ssemakula, an independent candidate, has filed an election petition at the High Court in Masaka challenging the victory of NUP's Joseph Ssewungu, arguing that he was illegally declared the winner.
According to the official tally, Ssewungu was declared the winner with 10,106 votes, narrowly defeating Ssemakula, who garnered 10,060 votes.
Ssemakula had initially sought a vote recount, but the process was halted after it was discovered that the ballot box seals had been tampered with.
Masaka
Similarly, in Masaka, NUP's Rose Nalubowa has challenged the election of NRM's Justine Nameere at the High Court in Masaka.
Nalubowa was initially declared the winner with 25,443 votes, while Nameere trailed with 20,334 votes.
However, the outcome changed after Nameere petitioned the Masaka Chief Magistrate's Court, which ordered a vote recount and subsequently declared her the winner.
Nalubowa now contends that the ballot box seals were tampered with, enabling ballot stuffing in favour of Nameere.
Hoima
Princess Dianah Rouse Jane Mugenyi Abwooli has petitioned the High Court in Hoima to nullify the election of Hoima City Woman MP Nyakato Asinansi, citing alleged electoral irregularities, bribery and voter manipulation during the January 15, 2026 elections.
Mugenyi, the NRM candidate, lost to Nyakato, who crossed from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF).
Mbarara
Dr Robert Mwesigwa, an independent candidate, has petitioned the High Court in Mbarara, challenging the election of NRM's Christopher Bakashaba for Mbarara City North Division on grounds that he allegedly submitted forged academic documents to the Electoral Commission during the nomination process.
According to court documents, Bakashaba reportedly sat his Primary Leaving Examinations in 2011 at Mushasha Primary School, completed Senior Four in 2015 at Valley View High School and sat Senior Six in 2017.
Mwesigwa questions how Bakashaba, who is said to have worked with an airline between 2006 and 2019, was able to pursue his academic studies over the same period.
Still in Mbarara, NRM's Margaret Ayebare Rwebyambu is challenging the victory of Loydah Kyarikunda for the Mbarara District Woman MP seat, also on grounds of lack of academic papers.
Mubende
A vote recount ordered by the Mubende Magistrate's Court saw NRM's Dedan Mubangizi declared the winner of the Buweekula South parliamentary seat.
While delivering the ruling, Chief Magistrate Noah Ssajjabbi explained that the decision followed a comprehensive recount exercise ordered by the court.
According to the final tally, NUP candidate Edward Ssempiira received 1,878 votes, Dedan Mubangizi obtained 7,908 votes, and Fred Tumwesigye garnered 7,505 votes.
Tumwesigye is now also challenging Mubangizi's victory at the High Court in Mubende.