Court Bars Live Media Coverage of Bukimbiri Election Petitions

What the report says

High Court Judge Justice Farouk Lubega has restricted live media coverage and recording during hearings for two election petitions challenging the victory of Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu in Bukimbiri County, Kisoro District. The case is being heard at the High Court premises at Kikungiri Hill in Kabale District, where the parties and their lawyers appeared as proceedings began. Nile Post reported that the judge said the limits were intended to help manage the petitions and avoid distortion of the proceedings.

Kwizera, the incumbent, won the Bukimbiri parliamentary seat as an independent candidate in the January 15, 2026 general elections with 14,761 votes. His closest challenger, Asingario Turyagyenda, received 12,553 votes, while FDC candidate James Owebeye got 102 votes. The petitions were filed in early April 2026.

Turyagyenda is seeking to nullify the result over alleged irregularities, including claims that some of his supporters and polling agents were beaten and harassed, and that there was bribery and manipulation of results. Owebeye separately alleges that his name was removed from the voters’ register and says the election should be annulled and rerun. He also asked for compensation and costs. The court has now begun hearing the petitions. In general, election petitions in Uganda can take time-sensitive procedures in the courts, and such cases often focus on alleged voting and tallying irregularities.