Musisi Calls for Law Reform to Keep Election Petitions Alive After Petitioner’s Death

What the report says

Human rights lawyer George Musisi is urging Uganda to amend its election laws so courts can continue hearing election petitions even if the petitioner dies. Speaking in response to the death of former Busiro South parliamentary candidate Charles Matovu, Musisi said election disputes involve more than the interests of one candidate and should also be seen as matters affecting voters and the wider public.

According to Nile Post, Matovu had filed a petition challenging the victory of National Resistance Movement candidate Kenan Opio in the January 2026 parliamentary election. His case was still before the High Court when he died on October 22, and no final ruling had been made on his claims of electoral irregularities, including concerns about election documents and results forms. Under Section 86 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, such petitions abate when the sole petitioner dies, meaning the case normally ends and cannot be pursued by relatives or legal representatives.

Musisi said that approach can leave serious allegations of electoral malpractice unresolved. He argued that claims involving issues such as ballot stuffing or alleged interference by security agencies should not disappear simply because the petitioner has died. In his view, the law should be reviewed so judges can still determine the substance of the case in the public interest.

He called on lawyers and legislators to consider reforms that would preserve election petitions after a petitioner’s death while still respecting court timelines and procedures. The proposal raises broader questions about how Uganda balances finality in election disputes with accountability in the electoral process.