The legal battle surrounding the 2026 parliamentary elections has intensified, with several election petitions coming up for hearing at the Masaka and Luweero High Courts.
At Masaka High Court, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Rose Nalubowa is challenging the election of Justine Nameere, the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament and State Minister for Local Government.
Justice Bernard Namanya has scheduled the petition for hearing on September 22, 2026.
Nalubowa’s legal team, led by lawyer Samuel Muyizzi, wants the court to establish whether the vote recount that eventually handed victory to Nameere was conducted in accordance with the law.
The petition follows a recount conducted earlier this year under the supervision of Masaka Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe.
According to Nalubowa’s team, the initial results showed her ahead with 25,443 votes, compared with Nameere’s 20,324 votes.
However, after the recount, Nameere was declared the winner with 25,502 votes, while Nalubowa received 23,176 votes.
Nalubowa’s lawyers have indicated that they intend to cross-examine seven witnesses for the respondent, including Nameere herself.
Nameere’s defence team, led by lawyer Sam Ssekyewa, is also prepared for the hearing and intends to cross-examine 10 witnesses, including Nalubowa.
The defence has maintained that the petition was not properly before court, but confirmed that it is ready to proceed with the case.
Rakai Election Petition File Found
The Masaka court also dealt with a separate petition concerning the election of Rakai District Woman MP Juliet Suubi Kinyamatama.
The petition was filed by Grace Nalubega, who is challenging Kinyamatama’s victory.
The case file had reportedly gone missing from the Judiciary registry but was traced and presented to court on Tuesday, September 15.
Nalubega’s lawyer, Jude Mbabaali, welcomed the recovery of the file and said the legal team was ready to proceed.
The court gave the respondent’s lawyers until September 17 to study the file before the matter returns for mention on September 22.
More Election Disputes in Sembabule
Other election petitions were also handled at Masaka High Court.
In Mawogola North Constituency, losing candidate Jet Tumwebaze is challenging the victory of Aine Sodo Kaguta.
The matter was adjourned to September 23 to determine a preliminary objection relating to representation. Tumwebaze, who is a lawyer, wants to represent himself in the case.
Meanwhile, former Mawogola County South MP Gorreth Namugga is challenging the election of Dez Byuuma Oswaldo.
Namugga is asking court to declare the parliamentary seat vacant and order a by-election, alleging that the election was affected by irregularities.
Masaka currently has 21 election petitions, the highest number in the country, with the cases being handled by five judges at the circuit.
Nakaseke Central Petition Set for October
At Luweero High Court, another closely watched election petition has been scheduled for hearing in October.
Former Nakaseke Central MP and NUP candidate Allan Mayanja Ssebunya is challenging the election of Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye, the State Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs.
The five-day hearing is scheduled to run from October 12 to October 16, 2026, before Justice Samuel Emokor.
The petition is one of six cases arising from the January 2026 General Election that have been assigned to Luweero High Court.
Court has directed that the case be heard consecutively, with each side expected to have two days to present witnesses and conduct cross-examination.
Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9:00am on October 12.
The ongoing cases highlight the growing number of legal challenges arising from Uganda’s 2026 parliamentary elections, with courts now set to determine whether the disputed elections and electoral processes complied with the law.
