NUP's Ssewungu loses court bid to halt Kalungu West vote recount
Chief Magistrate Abert Asiimwe on Wednesday (January 21) ruled that the court would proceed with hearing the application, noting that although Kalungu Chief Magistrate's Court had been gazetted, it was not yet operational.
Hon. Gonzanga Ssewungu (NUP), the Kalungu West MP-elect, with his supporters at Masaka Chief Magistrates Court, where his election victory is being challenged for a vote recount application. (Credit: Dismus Buregyeya)
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Masaka Chief Magistrates Court has rejected a preliminary objection by Kalungu West MP Gonzanga Ssewungu (NUP) seeking to halt an election vote recount application.
Through his lawyers, Caleb Alaka and Samuel Muyizzi, Ssewungu argued that the Masaka Chief Magistrates Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
However, Chief Magistrate Abert Asiimwe on Wednesday (January 21) ruled that the court would proceed with hearing the application, noting that although Kalungu Chief Magistrate's Court had been gazetted, it was not yet operational.
“We shall continue hearing the vote recount application for Kalungu West at the Masaka Chief Magistrate's Court; the judiciary needs budget improvement to recruit judicial officers for Kalungu and elsewhere,” he said.
Senior Counsel Alaka Coleb and Samuel Muyizzi represented MP Ssewungu with other lawyers at Masaka Chief Magistrates Court. (Credit: Dismus Buregyeya)
Asiimwe explained that Kalungu cases are currently handled in Masaka due to the absence of a registry and a resident Chief Magistrate to preside over the Kalungu jurisdiction.
The applicant, Ismael Ssemakula (independent), who emerged runner-up in the Kalungu West parliamentary race, filed an application seeking a vote recount at 94 polling stations, citing irregularities.
Ssewungu defeated Ssemakula by a margin of 46 votes.
Ssempijja cries foul in Kalungu East
In a related development, former defence minister Vincent Ssempijja (NRM) has also protested the election victory of Kalungu East MP-elect Yusuf Nkeretanyi (NUP), citing alleged election rigging and malpractices.
The former Defence Minister, Vincent Ssempijja (NRM) with his supporters in Lukaya where he is protesting against the Kalungu East Parliamentary race results on grounds that the winner, Yusuf Nketetanyi (NUP) rigged the polls. (Credit: Dismus Buregyeya)
Backed by Kalungu district woman parliamentary flag bearer Hellen Nakeeya, Ssempijja said they are set to seek court redress.
Addressing a press conference in Lukaya on January 21, 2026, Ssempijja said he would not concede defeat, citing unfairness in the electoral process.
“The biometric machines were brought to maintain good work, and in Bukulula, the presiding officer was seen taking away one of the ballot paper packets and was arrested,” he said.
He said the biometric machines were brought to curb vote rigging, and when many realised that the machines were not working, they resorted to participating in vote rigging.
“We realised that it is very important to ascertain where the Electoral Commission registrar had got the ballot papers, and we are looking forward to holding further investigation, which needs the President himself to access,” he said.