Tebandeke takes stand as Bbaale County election petition hearing ends
Tebandeke told court that Kayunga is inhabited by people from different ethnic communities and argued that it would have been illogical for him to campaign against a particular community and subsequently secure votes from the same electorate.
Bbaale County MP Charles Tebandeke with his lawyer Gilbert Bukiya after court proceedings. (Credit: Eric Yiga)
MUKONO - The hearing of an election petition challenging the election of Bbaale County MP Charles Tebandeke has concluded at the High Court in Mukono after the incumbent took the witness stand to respond to allegations of tribal discrimination and provocative campaign statements.
Tebandeke testified before Justice Philip Mwaka on September 22, 2026, as he defended his victory in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
The petition was filed by former NRM candidate Arthur Kiiza, who lost the election to Tebandeke, the incumbent NUP candidate.
Kiiza alleges that Tebandeke made statements during the campaign that were discriminatory and provocative. He wants the court to nullify Tebandeke’s election.
Tebandeke denied the allegations when he appeared before court.
He also denied discriminating against Kiiza on ethnic grounds.
Tebandeke told court that Kayunga is inhabited by people from different ethnic communities and argued that it would have been illogical for him to campaign against a particular community and subsequently secure votes from the same electorate.
Former NRM candidate Arthur Kiiza addressing the media after court proceedings. (Credit: Eric Yiga)
His lawyers, led in part by Gilbert Bukiya, had earlier cross-examined witnesses called by Kiiza before Tebandeke entered the witness box to give his own account of the allegations.
The petition has also featured a dispute over electronic evidence presented by Kiiza.
The judge, however, indicated that the recordings could potentially be presented again if the required evidentiary procedures were followed.
The disputed material comprised three videos downloaded from TikTok and three sequential recordings allegedly made using a mobile phone belonging to Lawrence Muwonge.
The ruling on the videos was limited to their admissibility as electronic evidence and did not determine whether the allegations of tribal discrimination against Tebandeke were true or false.
With Tebandeke’s testimony completed on Tuesday, the evidentiary stage of the petition came to an end.
Bukiya said Justice Mwaka had directed the parties to file their closing submissions by September 29.
The court is expected to issue further directions regarding the delivery of its judgment after receiving the parties’ final submissions.
Kiiza has maintained that the petition is intended to address the accountability of politicians for statements made during election campaigns, particularly where such statements are alleged to target individuals or communities on the basis of tribe, religion, gender or other characteristics.