The High Court in Kampala has annulled the election of Hon. Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North and instructed the Electoral Commission to organize a fresh poll.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Bernard Namanya, the court found that the by-election held earlier this year violated key provisions of the Parliamentary Elections Act. The judge concluded that these irregularities significantly impacted the election outcome.
Justice Namanya cited two main grounds for the nullification. First, he noted that 16,640 voters, including NRM candidate Hon. Nambi Faridah Kigongo, were disenfranchised an issue that substantially influenced the results.
Second, the court found that Nalukoola illegally campaigned on election day at Mbogo Primary School Playground (KAT–MAJ) and Kazo Angola (KAL–KZ) polling stations, an offense under Sections 100 (1) and (2) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Quoting his final orders, Justice Namanya declared: “The election of Luyimbazi Elias Nalukoola as the Directly Elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North constituency in Kampala District is hereby set aside,” and that, “the seat is declared vacant.”
He further directed the Electoral Commission to organize a new election and ruled that each party bear its own legal costs.
The ruling stems from a petition filed by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its candidate, Hon. Nambi Faridah Kigongo. The petition accused the Electoral Commission of failing to account for results from multiple polling stations, thereby denying thousands their right to vote.
It also highlighted claims of voter bribery, illegal election-day campaigning, and obstruction of voters and electoral officials by Nalukoola’s campaign team.
The contested by-election, held in March 2025, was itself a rerun after the 2021 victory of Muhammad Ssegirinya was nullified. It was marked by heightened political tension, heavy security presence, and opposition allegations of intimidation and violence by state agencies.
Backed by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), had emerged victorious, but this win has now been overturned.
The Electoral Commission is expected to release a new roadmap for the re-election in the coming weeks, setting the stage for another heated political contest in one of Kampala’s most competitive constituencies.
