Newly sworn-in Kawempe North MP Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi has assembled a legal team comprising nine law firms to defend his March 13, 2025, election victory.
Nalukoola’s election is being contested in court by his rival, Faridah Nambi Kigongo of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The law firms enlisted include GEM Advocates, Nyanzi, Kiboneka & Mbabazi Advocates, Alaka & Company Advocates, Kaganzi & Company Advocates, Mbabali & Company Advocates, Reeve Advocates, Ahamark Advocates, PACE Advocates, and Nalukoola Advocates and Solicitors, the MP’s personal firm.
The lawyers, led by George Musisi, served a notice of address to Nambi’s legal team, headed by Ahmed Kalule of Crane Associates, on Thursday, shortly after receiving a copy of the election petition.
The legal team is expected to jointly review the petition and file Nalukoola’s response. The Electoral Commission declared Nalukoola the winner of the March 13th parliamentary by-election, securing 17,939 votes against Nambi’s 9,058.
Dissatisfied with the results, Nambi petitioned the High court last week, seeking the nullification of Nalukoola’s election and the conduct of a fresh by-election.
Nambi lists the Electoral Commission as the second respondent and claims that voter disenfranchisement occurred at 14 polling stations whose results were never included in the final tally.
In her petition, Nambi accuses Nalukoola of engaging in illegal electoral practices, including campaigning at polling stations. She alleges that at Mbogo Primary School Playground (KAT-MAJ) polling station, Nalukoola campaigned among voters by chanting his party slogan “People Power, Our Power” and telling voters “Yenze Nalukoola,” loosely translated as “It’s me, Nalukoola.”
She further alleges that at Kazo Angola (KAL-KZ) LCI Office polling station, Nalukoola told voters, “Amaanyi g’abantu temugalyaamu olukwe,” which translates to “Do not betray people power.”
Nambi also accuses Nalukoola’s agents, Musa Kibirige and Ritah Nabakooza, of holding his campaign posters at Bright Sparks Junior School polling centre and asking voters to vote for him.
The petition further claims that Nalukoola and his campaigners obstructed voters, violating Section 90 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. Specific individuals such as Bonny Bukenya , Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, Edward Sserunjogi, Joseph Ssempijja, Sam Kasirye, Scovia Auma, and Fred Kibirango are mentioned for allegedly preventing voters, including Deborah Nassanga, from voting at Kalanda’s Compound (N-N) polling station.
Nambi asserts that at least 16,640 votes from 14 polling stations were never announced. She blames the Electoral Commission for failing to conduct polling in a free and secure environment, and for not counting or transmitting results from stations such as Mbogo Primary School Playground, Kazo Angola LCI Office, and Bosa’s Road.
She says these actions contravene several sections of the Parliamentary Elections Act. The Commission is also accused of mishandling electoral materials and failing to properly tally or postpone counting where necessary.
Nambi argues that this contributed to voter disenfranchisement, including herself, as she is a registered voter at Mbogo Primary School Playground. The petition cites alleged instances of bribery by Nalukoola and his agents.
It claims that Nathan Kyemba Muwanguzi received Shs 10,000 to vote for Nalukoola. It also states that on Election Day, Ben Ntale Mukasa, a Kawempe Division councilor, gave Shs 5,000 to Mawumbe George William at Clinton Junior School (KIM) polling station to induce a vote.
Additionally, it is alleged that Nalukoola gave Shs 5,000 to Geoffrey Wamukubira at Pentecostal Church (OZ) polling station. Nambi argues that these actions, carried out by Nalukoola or his agents with his knowledge and consent, constitute grounds for nullifying his election. The High court is yet to schedule the matter for hearing.
Really no shame on NRM? I guess it is because they rely on the their numbers, dysfunctional judges and what else. They think it is their entitlement to win all elections. Heaven forbid
Indeed it is big business to participate in national elections in Uganda. If you do not have over a billion Uganda shillings you are wasting your time with the little money you might have. Most citizens of this country cannot afford the next meal and educational costs for their children while these two politicians are able to spend money in their professional as rich politicians as if there is no tomorrow! One wants to ask of the electorate, how much money are they going to receive by trying their luck of electing such rich politicians especially if the NRM cadre judge demands the Electoral Commission to repeat such a very violent and rigged by-election process? In most countries that are determined to protect sincere democracy to grow in their countries, rigging and causing violence in such elections are all criminal offences. Those individual electoral participants and their political parties when they are found guility of Gerrymandering are banned from participating in any election for over 5 years and given very high fines to pay?
were the people that nambi talks about wearing name tags, for her to identify them