Ssenyonyi in Trouble: High Court Fixes January 7 Hearing in Nakawa Nomination Dispute

Kampala — The High Court of Uganda has set January 7, 2026, to hear a petition challenging the nomination of candidates for the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat, escalating a dispute that has already caused sharp exchanges among aspirants.

According to a hearing notice issued on January 6, the case — Election Petition No. HCT-00-CV-EP-0008-2025 — will be heard at 10:00 a.m. at the High Court in Kampala.

The matter was filed by Ivan Bwowe against the Electoral Commission and seven other aspirants: Happy Nasasira, Herbert Anderson Burora, Felix Okuye, Vincent Okumu, Joel Ssenyonyi, Wilberforce Kyambadde and Apuuli Rwamiti.

Bwowe argues that his rivals were nominated to contest in a constituency he says does not legally exist — “Nakawa West” — insisting that the only gazetted constituency for the 2025–2026 cycle is Nakawa Division West.

He maintains that he is the only candidate validly nominated under the correct name and wants the court to declare the other nominations illegal, null and void.

He is also seeking to be declared unopposed under Section 19(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

Rival responds publicly

The court hearing follows a public rebuttal by one of the respondents, Herbert Anderson Burora, who dismissed Bwowe’s claims on social media.

Burora said all candidates were verified, signed and stamped by the Electoral Commission, arguing that the Commission could not have nominated candidates to a non-existent constituency.

He advised Bwowe to take the matter to court — advice that has now been acted on.

The development comes against the backdrop of wider nomination disputes in the current election cycle, in which several candidates from the National Unity Platform were denied nomination over issues including lack of required academic credentials and documentation.

NUP officials suspect the incumbent lawmaker, Joel Ssenyonyi is being targeted for elimination from the race.

The NUP has previously accused the Electoral Commission of deliberately blocking its candidates in favour of the ruling National Resistance Movement, an allegation the electoral body has repeatedly denied, saying all decisions are guided strictly by the law and electoral regulations.

The hearing notice warns that if any party fails to appear in person or through a lawyer, the court may proceed in their absence.

The outcome could determine whether the Nakawa Division West race proceeds with multiple candidates or whether the court orders changes to the nomination list.

The Electoral Commission has not yet publicly commented on the court process.