High Court Dismisses MP Nabukenya Bid for Election Documents, Sets Ruling Dates

What the report says

The High Court in Luweero has rejected an application by Luweero Woman MP Brenda Nabukenya seeking access to electoral documents in a petition contesting her victory. Justice Vincent Emmy Mugabo said the request for materials, including the Electoral Commission’s Declaration of Results forms, was not sufficiently justified. The court also ordered the applicants to pay the Electoral Commission’s costs.

The application was filed in a petition brought by Agnes Kirabo, who is challenging Nabukenya’s win in the January 15 parliamentary election. Kirabo argued that the results forms would help prove she was the rightful winner, while Nabukenya maintained that the forms in her possession support her own victory. During Wednesday’s hearing, the two sides, through their lawyers, agreed to file the necessary documents by October 23 and avoid cross-examining witnesses.

Justice Mugabo set November 6 for the ruling in the Nabukenya petition. In the same sitting, he also handled a separate election petition by Esther Nakawooya against Nakaseke Woman MP Sarah Najjuma, with the parties likewise agreeing to file documents electronically by October 23 instead of cross-examining witnesses. That case was set for ruling on November 10.

The developments come as several post-election disputes in Uganda continue to move through the courts, where parties often seek access to election records and challenge the validity of returned results.