The ministers battling election petitions in court

It’s been over two months since President Museveni appointed his 83-member Cabinet to run his government following his election to a seventh term. Of the 83 appointees, nine are facing election petitions in various courts across the country. At press time, the Judiciary was still stuck with finances and hadn’t commenced hearing the parliamentary and local council petitions that had been filed by disputing parties. The Judiciary's records show that at least 118 election petitions had been filed arising from the January 2026 general polls. Of the 118 petitions, 107 are parliamentary, and 11 are from local councils. Being a minister is an added advantage in that even if one is kicked out of Parliament, they can continue performing the ministerial duties at the discretion of the appointing authority, the President. Below are some of the ministers whose elections are being challenged in court;

In Masaka

The controversial announcement of Ms Justine Nameere of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party as the Woman MP for Masaka City following a vote recount has since been challenged before the Masaka High Court by her main challenger, Ms Rose Nalubowa of the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party. Through her lawyers at Alaka & Company Advocates, together with Xander Advocates, Ms Nalubowa claims to have won the highly contested race that attracted four candidates.

The EC had initially announced NUP’s Nalubowa as the winner of the race with 25,443 votes, with Ms Nameere coming in second position with 20,324 votes, representing a difference of 5,119 votes. The then incumbent MP, Ms Juliet Kakande Nakabuye of the Democratic Front (DF), got 6,343 votes while independent candidate Sawuyah Nanyonga garnered 6,196 votes. However, in the recount on February 1, Masaka Chief Magistrate Mr Abert Asiimwe declared Ms Nameere after a tense three-day recount exercise, overturning the EC’s earlier declaration of Ms Nalubowa as the duly elected MP. According to results from the recount, Ms Nameere scored 25,502 votes against Ms Nalubowa’s 23,176 votes, indicating a margin of 2,326 votes.

In Kalungu

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State minister for Water Aisha Sekindi’s election to Parliament is also being contested in court. She was sued by Ms Hellen Nakeeya, the former NRM flag bearer for the Kalungu District Woman MP seat. Ms Nakeeya, among others, contends that the election was marred by gross irregularities, ranging from beating up her supporters to her agents being shot at on the eve of the election. Two residents allied to Ms Nakeeya’s camp were reportedly shot dead by Ms Sekindi’s escorts. Ms Sekindi was declared the winner after gathering 25000 votes compared to Nakeeya’s 5,592 votes.

Elsewhere

In Kigezi Sub-region, three ministers are battling election petitions. They include Jim Muhwezi (Security minister), Dr Chris Baryomunsi (Health Minister), and Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde (Gender Minister). Minister Muhwezi’s victory is being challenged by Mr Fred Turyamuhweza Tumuheirwe of the Opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) party. The petitioner is, among others, seeking a declaration that Minister Muhwezi allegedly committed electoral malpractices during the campaign period and was therefore not validly elected as a Member of Parliament for Rujumbura constituency in Rukungiri District.

Mr Turyamuhweza also seeks a declaration that the second respondent, the Electoral Commission (EC), conducted the election of a member of parliament for Rujumbura County constituency in Rukungiri district in non-compliance with the electoral laws. “The election of the first respondent be annulled, and a fresh election be conducted in the said county. The respondents pay the costs of the petition jointly or severally,” the petition, stamped received at the High Court of Uganda at Rukungiri dated April 1, reads in part. Relatedly, an independent candidate in the January 15th Kinkizi East parliamentary race, Mr Sam Arinaitwe Kajojo, on March 31, filed an election petition at Rukungiri High Court in Rukungiri District challenging the declaration of Health minister Baryomunsi as the winner.

Through his lawyers, M/s Alaka & Co Advocates and M/s Ochieng Associated Advocates and solicitors, Mr Arinaitwe contends that the elections were marred by a lot of irregularities that greatly affected the outcome. His prayers to the court are for the cancellation of the election and to compel the Electoral Commission to organise fresh elections using the biometric voter verification kits. “The election was marred by gross inconsistencies that affected the outcome of the election. There was intimidation of voters, colluding with electoral officials to change declaration of result forms, ballot stuffing, among other irregularities,” Mr Kajojo said.

Gender minister Gen Tumukunde’s victory as the Rukungiri Municipality MP is also being challenged by Opposition politician Ingrid Turinawe of the PFF party. Ms Turinawe, in her petition, contends that the January 15 parliamentary elections were marred by inconsistencies that affected the overall results and the integrity of the process, hence should be cancelled At the press time, the registrar at Rukungiri High Court had given Gen Tumukunde 10 days to file a response to the election petition. The registrar had warned that failure to comply would lead to the court delivering its decision in his absence.

In Eastern Uganda

Bukono constituency MP Persis Namuganza’s victory is being contested before the Iganga High Court. The petition against the minister was filed by Mr Emmanuel Katoko, who, among others, cites violence, voter bribery, vote rigging, and the use of pre-ticked ballot papers, which he claims substantially compromised the credibility of the results. He is seeking court orders to nullify the declared outcome, arguing that the process did not comply with the principles of free and fair elections.

In Northern Uganda

In Northern Uganda, Justice Minister Norbert Mao is facing a court action over how he didn’t win the Laroo-Pece Division constituency in Gulu City. The NRM candidate, Mr Tonny Kitara, filed a 41-page election petition challenging Mr Mao's victory in the Laroo-Pece Division MP race, citing multiple election act breaches. Mr Kitara, also a human rights lawyer, alleges that Mr Mao, who is also the president of the Democratic Party (DP), interfered with campaigns, used official vehicle/escorts, campaigned past official hours, and committed voter bribery. The petitioner lists 18 grounds he believes will warrant the cancellation of Minister Mao’s win.

Mr Mao is a former Gulu District chairperson and also served two terms as MP for Gulu Municipality before it was elevated to a city in July 2020. The DP party leader secured 7,359 votes against Fr Charles Onen’s 5,562 votes, who was the incumbent. Mr Kitara, who came third in the race after garnering 2,867 votes, had claimed he had failed to physically serve the minister with the court papers; hence, he sought the court’s intervention to serve him through newspapers (legally known as substitute service). In Karamoja Sub-region, Karamoja Affairs minister Esther Anyakun’s victory has also been challenged before the court over alleged electoral irregularities. The Nakapiripirit District Woman MP’s victory is being challenged by Ms Lilly Lopuwa.

The EC declared minister Anyakun the winner with 16,275 votes against Ms Lopuwa’s 11,675 votes, while Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Zipora Nate garnered 705 votes. Ms Lopuwa, through her lawyer Israel Ahereza of Kituuma Magala & Co Advocates, claims there was, among others, ballot stuffing in more than 100 polling stations. “There was voter bribery, Intimidation by state operatives, and ballot stuffing,” Ms Lopuwa said through her lawyers. Ms Lopuwa alleges that the EC failed to conduct the election process in accordance with the Parliamentary Elections Act, and allegedly went ahead to mishandle the declaration result forms.

In Kampala

Kampala Affairs Minister Minsa Kabanda’s election has been contested by Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, the general secretary of the largest Opposition political party, National Unity Platform (NUP). Mr Rubongoya alleges that the Kampala Central MP election was marred by irregularities, including ballot stuffing and rigging in favour of Ms Kabanda. He claims he won 17 out of the 20 parishes in the Kampala Central Division, and that Minister Kabanda influenced the electoral officials to “rob” his victory in her favour.