The High Court in Kampala has rejected a legal challenge by lawyer Bwowe Ivan that sought to block Joel Ssenyonyi and six other candidates from contesting the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat.
The court ruled that a minor naming error cited in the case was insignificant and did not affect the validity of the nominations.
In his ruling on 8th January 2026, Justice Collins Acellam upheld the Electoral Commission’s handling of the nominations and warned against using the courts to interfere with the democratic process before voters have had their say.
Bwowe Ivan had argued that while he was nominated for Nakawa Division West, his rivals were listed as candidates for a “non-existent” constituency called Nakawa West. He asked the court to cancel their nominations and declare himself the unopposed Member of Parliament.
Justice Acellam dismissed the claim, saying all candidates were clearly contesting the same constituency and the missing word “Division” was simply a clerical mistake. He noted that official documents, including control forms and campaign programs, all showed the correct constituency name: Nakawa Division West.
The judge also pointed out that Bwowe Ivan himself appeared on some official documents as a candidate for “Nakawa West,” the same wording he used to challenge his rivals. He did not raise objections at the time, undermining his case.
Justice Acellam strongly criticised Bwowe Ivan’s request to be declared MP without an election, emphasizing that such a move would deny voters their right to choose. He stressed that courts should focus on substantive justice, and anyone seeking elective office must earn legitimacy through the ballot.
The petition was dismissed in full, the Electoral Commission’s decision upheld, and each party was ordered to bear its own costs.
The ruling comes amid a wave of legal disputes over nominations ahead of the 2026 general elections, with several candidates, particularly from NUP, challenging their exclusion from the race.
The Electoral Commission has repeatedly insisted that all decisions are made strictly according to the law.