The High Court in Kampala has nullified the election of opposition politician Elias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola as Member of Parliament for Kawempe North, citing widespread electoral irregularities. The court ruling paves the way for a fresh vote in the constituency, less than a year before Uganda’s next general elections.
In a judgement delivered via email on Monday, Justice Bernard Namanya declared the March 13 by-election null and void, stating that the process had breached key provisions of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
“Therefore, in accordance with Sections 80, 82 (4)(c), and 82 (6)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 177), I order as follows: That the election of Luyimbaazi Elias Nalukoola… is set aside. That the seat… is declared vacant,” Justice Namanya wrote in his decision.
The court found that more than 16,000 voters in Kawempe North, including Ms Nambi Faridah Kigongo — the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate — were disenfranchised, significantly affecting the outcome.
Justice Namanya also cited evidence that Mr Nalukoola campaigned on polling day at two locations, in violation of electoral laws that prohibit canvassing during the vote. The offences are punishable under Sections 100 (1), (2), and (3) of the Act.
The petition challenging the results was filed by Ms Nambi, who lost to Nalukoola, a candidate for the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). Nalukoola had garnered 17,764 votes to Nambi’s 8,593.
Ms Nambi alleged that her supporters faced voter intimidation, ballot boxes were tampered with, and voting was disrupted in areas considered strongholds for the ruling party.
The by-election was marred by heavy military deployment, with rights groups and local media reporting harassment and violence against journalists and opposition supporters. At least two dozen reporters were assaulted, some hospitalised in the capital.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Yoweri Museveni defended the deployment of military and anti-terror units, saying their presence had averted what he described as “mass violence” instigated by opposition supporters.
“The heavy deployment of security forces may have stopped mass violence, but it could not prevent the micro-crimes,” he posted on 16 March.
He also accused opposition supporters of vandalising ballot boxes in several locations, including Kazo-Angola and Mbogo Mosque Zone — claims the opposition has denied.
As of Monday evening, the Electoral Commission had yet to announce a date for the fresh vote. Neither Mr Nalukoola nor Ms Nambi had publicly responded to the ruling.
The court decision comes at a politically sensitive time for Uganda, with the country expected to head to the polls in early 2026 for presidential and parliamentary elections, traditionally held on the same day.
