The Electoral Commission has asked the High Court in Masaka to dismiss a petition challenging the outcome of the Masaka District Woman Member of Parliament election, insisting that the process was conducted in accordance with the law and reflected the will of the voters.
The petition was filed by Joanita Nalule against the incumbent, Joan Namutaawe, who was declared the winner after polling 16,064 votes on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket.
Nalule received 15,559 votes, while independent candidate Mary Babirye Kabanda garnered 2,888 votes, leaving a margin of just 505 votes.
In its response to the petition, the Commission, through its external lawyers at M/s Basiime & Co Advocates, described the case as lacking merit.
It argued that the January 15, 2026, election was free, fair, and administered in a transparent, accountable, and verifiable manner.
The Commission acknowledged that results from two polling stations—Kijonjo Church of Uganda and Buyaga Primary School A—were not included in the final tally due to non-transmission at the time results were being compiled.
However, it maintained that this omission did not substantially affect the outcome. According to an affidavit by Masaka District Returning Officer Mable Kwarikunda, the results from the affected polling stations could not be tallied because they were not transmitted in time.
She added that the final tallying was conducted in the presence of candidates, their agents, and security personnel, ensuring transparency.
The Commission also rejected allegations of voter bribery and campaign misconduct attributed to Namutaawe or her agents, stating that it had no knowledge of such incidents and that the claims were unsubstantiated.
It further argued that even if any irregularities occurred, they were not significant enough to alter the final result.
In her petition, Nalule detailed a series of incidents during the campaign period in November and December 2025, accusing Namutaawe of making defamatory statements at public gatherings that portrayed her as a murderer, a practitioner of witchcraft, and a violent individual unfit for leadership.
Nalule claimed these statements were false and intended to influence voters against her.She said that following these remarks, she faced hostility in several campaign areas, including Kyanamukaka, Buwunga, and Kyesiiga sub-counties, where some voters allegedly shunned and heckled her during rallies, resulting in a loss of support.
She also cited alleged voter bribery on the eve of the election, January 14, 2026, with items such as soap, sugar, and cash reportedly distributed in several villages to influence voter choice.
Some of those involved were allegedly arrested and investigated by police in Masaka.
On polling day, January 15, Nalule stated that voting took place within official hours from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, including at the two disputed polling stations.
However, she argued that results from Kijonjo Church of Uganda and Buyaga Primary School A, which had a combined total of 1,117 registered voters, were not transmitted and excluded from the final tally.
Nalule contends that the Electoral Commission proceeded to declare Namutaawe as the duly elected Woman MP on February 6, 2026, despite the missing results, contrary to provisions of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
She is seeking nullification of the election results, a fresh election, and prosecution of Namutaawe and her agents for alleged electoral offences.
She also wants the court to declare that the election was not conducted in accordance with the law. Judiciary Spokesperson James Ereemye Mawanda said the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, will provide guidance on when all election petitions will be scheduled for hearing once the filing process is complete.
The filing of election petitions for directly elected MPs ends April 2, 2026, while the window for women MPs closed last week after 30 days from gazettement.
According to the Electoral Commission’s status report of March 25, 2026, at least 30 election petitions have been filed so far. URN