In a dramatic political shake-up, the High Court has nullified the election of Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as Kawempe Division North MP, citing blatant election law breaches and the shocking disenfranchisement of over 16,000 voters.
Justice Bernard Namanya, in a hard-hitting 50-page judgment, ruled that Nalukoola personally campaigned on polling day—a cardinal sin under Uganda’s Parliamentary Elections Act—at Mbogo Primary School Playground and Kazo Angola LCI Office.
“The petitioner has proved on the balance of probabilities… that the first respondent campaigned and canvassed for votes on polling day,” Justice Namanya declared.
The petition, filed by Faridah Nambi Kigongo, the runner-up with 9,058 votes, painted a picture of chaos—voter intimidation, bribery, and obstructed election officials. While most claims lacked direct links to Nalukoola, the court focused like a laser on two smoking guns: his polling day conduct and the Electoral Commission’s failure to account for results from 14 stations, affecting 16,640 voters.
“It was wrong… to declare results while knowingly excluding votes from 14 polling stations. That omission violated the constitutional right to vote,” Justice Namanya ruled.
The winning margin? Just 8,881 votes. But the excluded stations, many marred by violence and destroyed ballot materials, had more voters than that—enough to cast serious doubt on Nalukoola’s legitimacy.
Post-Ruling Reactions:
A visibly shaken Nalukoola broke his silence outside court: “I categorically deny any wrongdoing. I respect the court’s decision, but I never campaigned on polling day.”
Meanwhile, a jubilant Faridah Nambi called the ruling a turning point for electoral justice: “The truth is out. This is a win for every disenfranchised voter in Kawempe North.”
State and Opposition Spar Over Fallout
The court ruling follows President Museveni’s March 2025 declaration of a full-scale investigation into the chaotic Kawempe North by-election.
“To think you can commit such crimes against democracy while the NRM is in charge is pure shallowness,” Museveni fumed, citing ballot stuffing, destroyed boxes, and illegal polling station campaigning.
He hinted that sabotage in Kazo-Angola and Mbogo zones could have been aimed at undermining growing NRM support thanks to government anti-poverty efforts.
But opposition leaders were quick to flip the script. NUP’s Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya, accused state security forces of being the real culprits behind election chaos.
“If the NRM believes in justice, let them face court. It’ll expose the state’s own fraud,” Rubongoya retorted.
Next Steps: Another By-Election
With the seat now officially vacant, the Electoral Commission must organize a fresh by-election—the second in a year for the troubled constituency. No date has been announced yet.
As Uganda edges closer to the 2026 general elections, the Kawempe saga is fast becoming a litmus test for the credibility of the nation’s electoral process.
