Court faults EC over election malpractice but upholds minister Namuganza’s victory

What the report says

High Court in Iganga has upheld State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Persis Namuganza’s win in Bukono County, dismissing an election petition filed by Emmanuel Maganda Katoko over the January 15, 2026 parliamentary vote. According to The Observer, Justice Patience Rubagumya ruled that the challenger did not prove the alleged irregularities were serious enough to change the result. Namuganza, who ran as an independent after losing the NRM primaries, received 15,696 votes against Maganda’s 14,431.

The petition accused the Electoral Commission of poor management, including ballot stuffing, multiple voting, anomalies in declaration forms and unusually high turnout at some polling stations. The court said some inconsistencies did exist in the results paperwork, and it also found violence at several polling stations, but held that these issues had been resolved or were not substantial enough to nullify the election. The judge also faulted the EC for failing to maintain peace and order at the affected stations.

The court rejected separate claims that Namuganza bribed voters with cash and gifts, saying the evidence did not sufficiently link her or her agents to the alleged acts. It also dismissed allegations of false statements and unlawful detention of polling agents due to inadequate proof. Maganda was ordered to pay the costs of the case. The ruling is significant because it leaves Namuganza in parliament while also highlighting electoral administration concerns raised during the petition.