The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Nakawa Division West Member of Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, together with seven other parliamentary candidates, will know within the next two weeks whether they will appear on the ballot in the January 15, 2026 general elections.
This follows directives issued by High Court Civil Division Judge Collins Acellam after hearing oral submissions in a pre-election appeal filed by Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF) candidate Ivan Bwowe, who is challenging their nomination. On Tuesday, Judge Acellam directed Bwowe to file his written submissions by December 26, 2025, while the respondents are expected to submit theirs by December 29, with any rejoinder to be filed by December 30.
The judge said once the timelines are complied with, he will be in position to deliver a ruling within four to five days. Bwowe petitioned the High Court on December 18, 2025, challenging a decision of the Electoral Commission that upheld the nomination of eight candidates for the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat. The respondents include Joel Ssenyonyi, Herbert Anderson Burora, Happy Nasasira, Felix Ephraim Okuye, Vincent Norbert Okumu, Wilberforce Kyambadde and Miles Rwamiti Apuuli.
All maintain that their nominations were lawfully conducted for a duly gazetted constituency. The appeal arises from the Electoral Commission’s dismissal of Bwowe’s complaint on November 21, following a hearing on November 10. The decision was communicated to him on December 1. Bwowe argues that the Commission erred in law by upholding nominations allegedly conducted under “Nakawa West,” which he contends is a non-existent constituency not gazetted under Uganda’s electoral laws.
He maintains that the only legally recognised constituency is Nakawa Division West, and that nomination papers — including those of proposers, seconders and supporters — referred to the alleged non-existent constituency, rendering the entire process unlawful. In his affidavit in reply, Ssenyonyi disputes the claim, stating that all candidates, including Bwowe himself, personally completed and signed official Electoral Commission control forms clearly indicating Nakawa Division West Constituency.
He argues that the control forms, endorsed by all candidates, demonstrated a clear and shared intention regarding the electoral area. Ssenyonyi further states that all candidates submitted campaign programmes to the Electoral Commission showing their intention to campaign within the same geographical areas of Nakawa Division West Constituency, albeit on different dates.
He adds that the campaign programmes were harmonised before the Kampala District Returning Officer by October 31, 2025. According to Ssenyonyi, by the time Bwowe lodged his complaint with the Electoral Commission on November 6, any alleged error regarding the constituency name had already been corrected and cured through the harmonisation process. He insists that the harmonised programme strictly related to Nakawa Division West and no other constituency.
Ssenyonyi also explains that any reference to “Nakawa West” in his nomination papers was merely a clerical error or shorthand description commonly used interchangeably with Nakawa Division West. He notes that the same interchangeability appeared in Bwowe’s own campaign materials, including posters referring to the constituency as “Nakawa West.”He maintains that his nomination was valid, that both the intention of the candidates and the electoral area were clear, and that Bwowe is not entitled to any of the remedies sought. In its decision signed by Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, the Electoral Commission agreed with the respondents, finding that all candidates were nominated for Nakawa Division West Constituency.
The Commission ruled that the use of the words “Nakawa West” on some documents did not invalidate the nomination process and faulted Bwowe for portraying the inconsistency as unique to his rivals while similar wording appeared in his own materials. Dissatisfied, Bwowe appealed to the High Court, arguing that the Commission lacked authority to correct or vary nomination documents after nominations had closed and that it improperly relied on extraneous materials such as campaign programmes and harmonisation meetings.
He is asking court to set aside the Commission’s decision, nullify the nominations of the seven candidates, declare him the only validly nominated candidate for Nakawa Division West, and pronounce him elected unopposed, with costs. During the hearing, Electoral Commission lawyer Enoch Kugonza thanked counsel for the petitioner and respondents for their professionalism and conduct, noting that election matters are often emotionally charged. In response, Judge Acellam cautioned counsel to focus on substance rather than form, while assuring them that all relevant submissions would be heard.
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