Kakooza retains older persons seat after court rejects petition
The petition was filed by Mary Amanyire Sendi, who contested against Kakooza in the February 2, 2026 election as an independent candidate.
The Electoral Commission declared Kakooza, who contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, the winner with 111 votes against Sendi’s 50, giving him a winning margin of 61 votes. (New Vision/Files)
WAKISO - The High Court has upheld the election of James Kakooza as Member of Parliament representing older persons in the Central Region, dismissing a petition challenging his victory over allegations of bribery and electoral irregularities.
Justice George Okello, in a judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, at the High Court in Wakiso, declared Kakooza validly elected for the 2026–2031 parliamentary term.
The petition was filed by Mary Amanyire Sendi, who contested against Kakooza in the February 2, 2026 election as an independent candidate.
The Electoral Commission declared Kakooza, who contested on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, the winner with 111 votes against Sendi’s 50, giving him a winning margin of 61 votes.
Sendi challenged the outcome, alleging that the Electoral Commission had failed to conduct the election in accordance with electoral laws and that Kakooza had committed bribery by offering accommodation, transport, food and other benefits to members of the Electoral College to influence them to vote for him.
She also accused the commission of manipulating the voters’ register and denying her an opportunity to campaign.
On the allegation of manipulation of the voters’ register, the judge noted that the complaint had not been included in the petition but had been introduced in Sendi’s supporting affidavit.
The court also found that Sendi had given contradictory figures regarding the expected number of members of the Electoral College and had not identified any registered voter who had been left out of the register.
Justice Okello further held that the petitioner had not proved that any eligible member of the Electoral College had been prevented from voting.
On the bribery allegations, Sendi accused Kakooza of organising accommodation, transport, food and refreshments for delegates at Mosa Courts Suite in Kampala ahead of the election.
She also alleged that Kakooza had promised to take the delegates to meet the President after the election.
The allegations were supported by affidavits from Cassie Walugembe and Hussein Matovu Bukenya, who testified on behalf of Sendi.
The court observed that no receipts, payment vouchers, hotel staff or drivers were presented to establish that Kakooza had paid for the alleged accommodation and transport.
The judge also noted that the Electoral Commission had provided each member of the Electoral College with sh600,000 to cater for accommodation, food, refreshments and transport during the election period.
He consequently ruled that Sendi had failed to prove that Kakooza had bribed any registered voter.
The judge also considered a meeting held at the NRM Secretariat offices along Kyadondo Road on January 31, 2026, which was attended by Kakooza and some members of the Electoral College.
The court found that the meeting had been convened by the NRM party but that there was no evidence that Kakooza or the Electoral Commission had organised it.
Justice Okello declared Kakooza validly elected as the Central Region representative of older persons in Parliament.
The court ordered each party to bear its own costs of the petition.