The High Court in Kampala annulled the election of Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as the Directly Elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North constituency, declaring the seat vacant and ordering a fresh by-election.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Bernard Namanya, came in response to a petition by Faridah Nambi Kigongo of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who challenged Nalukoola’s victory in the March 13, 2025, by-election.
Nambi’s petition alleged electoral malpractices, including voter bribery and campaigning on election day, which violated the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 177).
She claimed Nalukoola bribed voters with cash amounts ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 shillings and that 16,640 voters were disenfranchised due to uncounted results from 14 polling stations.
The court found evidence of illegal campaign activities and widespread voter disenfranchisement, leading to the decision to set aside Nalukoola’s win. Justice Namanya ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct a new election and ruled that each party must bear its own costs.
Nalukoola, a National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, had been declared the winner with 17,939 votes against Nambi’s 9,058, following the death of the former MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya, in January 2025.
The by-election was marked by controversy from the start, with reports of violence, intimidation by security forces, and journalist harassment. Despite these challenges, Nalukoola’s victory was initially gazetted on March 24, 2025, and he was sworn in on March 26, 2025.
The legal battle intensified as Nambi accused Nalukoola of tampering with witnesses, leading to the court expunging two affidavits from Nalukoola’s defense on May 16, 2025, after allegations of coercion.
Throughout the proceedings, Nalukoola denied the bribery allegations, with his legal team arguing that any irregularities did not substantially affect the outcome.
The Electoral Commission also maintained that the election was conducted lawfully.
The Kawempe North constituency, a known opposition stronghold, has been a focal point of political tension, and this ruling adds another chapter to its contentious electoral history.