Uganda Court Upholds Election of Minister Namuganza

The High Court in Iganga has upheld the election of Princess Persis Namuganza as the directly elected Member of Parliament for Bukono County in Namutumba District. The court dismissed a petition challenging her victory in the January 15, 2026 polls, ruling that petitioner Emmanuel Maganda Katoko had failed to demonstrate that alleged electoral offences and irregularities substantially affected the outcome of the election.

Justice Patience Rubagumya delivered the judgment on Friday, finding that Maganda had not presented sufficient evidence to support his claims of electoral irregularities. The petitioner had accused the Electoral Commission of failing to properly manage the electoral process, alleging ballot stuffing, multiple voting, and discrepancies in the declaration of results. However, the judge ruled that these irregularities were not sufficient to overturn the results.

Namuganza secured 15,696 votes against Maganda's 14,431, winning the contest by a margin of 1,265 votes. Five other candidates also contested the parliamentary seat. The court identified mathematical inconsistencies in some Declaration of Results Forms but found that these discrepancies were addressed during tallying and did not alter the final outcome.

The court also established that violence occurred at some polling stations, including Namakoko Catholic Church, Gasani SDA Church, and Kitaigalwa Mosque. Justice Rubagumya faulted the Electoral Commission for failing to maintain peace and order at the affected polling stations, contrary to its responsibilities under electoral law. However, she concluded that the incidents were not sufficiently significant to invalidate the election.

Maganda had also accused Namuganza of engaging in voter bribery through cash payments and distribution of assorted gifts during the campaign period. However, the judge found that the petitioner had not presented adequate evidence linking Namuganza or her agents to the alleged distribution of money and gifts intended to influence voters.

The court rejected claims that Namuganza had made false statements about Maganda's character with the intention of undermining his chances of winning the election. Justice Rubagumya also found that Maganda's claims that his polling agents and supervisors had been unlawfully detained lacked convincing and independent evidence.

In her final determination, Justice Rubagumya held that the petitioner had not established any of the grounds under Section 80(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act that would justify setting aside Namuganza's election. The judge accordingly dismissed the petition, upheld Namuganza's victory, and awarded her costs arising from the case. Namuganza is a State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

Key points

• The High Court in Iganga upheld the election of Princess Persis Namuganza as the directly elected Member of Parliament for Bukono County in Namutumba District.
• The court dismissed a petition challenging her victory in the January 15, 2026 polls, ruling that petitioner Emmanuel Maganda Katoko had failed to demonstrate that alleged electoral offences and irregularities substantially affected the outcome of the election.
• Namuganza secured 15,696 votes against Maganda's 14,431, winning the contest by a margin of 1,265 votes.