Presidential polls petition: Court to rule on Kasibante application to withdraw

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The Supreme Court is Thursday, February 26, 2026, expected to deliver a ruling on an application by former presidential candidate Robert Kasibante seeking to withdraw his petition challenging the re-election of President Yoweri Museveni.

In a ruling notice dated February 25, 2026, the Supreme Court registrar Thadius Ayebare Tumwebaze stated that the ruling in the application shall be delivered by the justices on February 26, 2026.

The panel consists of Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, Percy Night Tuhaise, Mike Chibita, Elizabeth Musoke, Stephen Musota, Christopher Madrama, Catherine Bamugemereire, Monica Mugenyi and Muzamiru Kibeedi Mutangula.

“Take notice that the ruling in this application shall be delivered by court on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 10:00am in the forenoon or soon thereafter as the court will convene,” the notice reads in parts.

The registrar says that if no appearance is made by the applicant and respondents, their pleader or by someone authorised by law to act on their behalf, the ruling will be delivered in their absence.

The respondents in the matter are Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General.

The notice was sent to the law firms representing the applicant and respondents. The applicant is represented by Isabirye and Company Advocates and Strand Advocates, while the respondents are represented by K&K Advocates, Mwesigwa Rukutana and Company Advocates and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Why Kasibante is seeking to withdraw the petition

On February 6, 2026, Kasibante applied to the Supreme Court to withdraw his petition challenging the re-election of Museveni and an application for discovery of documents in which he had sought access to the Electoral Commission (EC) electronic results data, citing a lack of funds to continue paying his lawyers.

He applied to withdraw the applications, citing a lack of funds to continue financing lawyers who are representing him in the election petition and technical demands associated with the proposed nationwide audit.

However, Deputy Attorney General Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi stated that the Government and Kasibante did not execute any agreement regarding the proposed withdrawal of the presidential election petition.

“The Attorney General has not executed any agreement or terms of any kind with the petitioner regarding the proposed withdrawal of the presidential election petition,” Kafuuzi said.

The Attorney General is the principal legal adviser to the Government.

In his affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on February 9, Kafuuzi said the Attorney General has no objection to the withdrawal of the presidential election petition and the application for discovery of documents.

Kafuuzi states that the Attorney General opposed the petition and the application for discovery of documents and had sought their dismissal. Kasibante filed the petition against Museveni, EC and the Attorney General.

He opposed the applications, arguing that the implementation of the orders sought against the Attorney General would be logistically burdensome and expensive.

“The petition cannot be successfully prosecuted or proved on the basis of the petitioner’s pleadings and the evidence filed in the Supreme Court. The petition has no merit,” Kafuuzi contends.

He further argues that the presidential election held on January 15, 2026, was conducted in compliance with the principles and provisions of the Constitution, the Presidential Elections Act, and the Electoral Commission Act.

On January 17, 2026, EC declared Museveni, 81, of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), winner of the elections with 7,946,772 votes, representing 71.65% of the total valid votes.

His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform (NUP), came second with 2,741,238 votes (24.72%) in an eight-candidate race. The petitioner, Kasibante of the National Peasants Party, came sixth with 33,440 votes (0.3%).