NRM’s Kananura withdraws election petition against MP Musisi, blames lawyers

What the report says

Former National Resistance Movement parliamentary candidate Daniel Kananura has asked the High Court to withdraw his election petition challenging the victory of National Unity Platform MP George Musisi in Kira Municipality. The case stems from the January 15 parliamentary election, in which Musisi was declared the winner with 24,898 votes, ahead of former area MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Kananura, who polled 7,799.

According to the Observer, Kananura told the court on Monday that he wanted to abandon the petition because of what he described as shortcomings by the lawyers who prepared it. He said key evidence and arguments were left out, and that his attempt to file additional affidavits was not allowed. The petition had already reached the stage where the Electoral Commission’s witness was expected to testify, after earlier cross-examination of both Kananura and Musisi.

Musisi and the Electoral Commission did not oppose the withdrawal itself, but they objected to Kananura’s request to walk away without paying costs. Musisi’s lawyer said the respondent had spent time and money defending the case, while the Electoral Commission also asked for costs under election law. The judge adjourned the matter to October 14 for a ruling on whether the withdrawal can proceed without such costs. As broader context, election petitions in Uganda are court challenges to official results and often turn on procedural rules as well as evidence.