The court found evidence of illegal campaign activities and widespread voter disenfranchisement, leading to the decision to set aside Nalukoola’s win.
Following High Court ruling in election petition No. 01 of 2025 in favour of petitioner Hajat Faridah Nambi, the respondent Erias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola has filed his intention to appeal against the judgment.
Hajati Faridah Nambi, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer petitioned court claiming that Nalukoola was wrongfully declared winner of the by-election in the Kawempe North by-election where the two Nambi (NRM) and National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Nalukoola, alongside other contestants, each sought to replace the late Muhammad Ssegirinya as member of parliament for the area.
On Monday, May 26, 2025, High Court Judge Bernard Namanya nullified the Kawempe North by-election which was won by Nalukoola, declaring the seat vacant, and ordering fresh election.
Following the petition filed by Nambi, Justice Namanya delivered the ruling cancelling Nalukoola’s victory in the March 13th 2025 by-election.
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In a notice of intention to appeal, Nalukoola through his lawyers from five law firms, stated dissatisfaction with the judgement of Justice Bernard Namanya and expressed his intention to appeal against the judgement.
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 sh5,000 to sh10,000 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 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, among others.
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.
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