The High Court in Kampala has nullified the election of Hon. Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North, ordering the Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Bernard Namanya, the court found that the March 2025 by-election failed to comply with provisions of the Parliamentary Elections Act, and that the irregularities had a significant impact on the outcome of the vote.
Justice Namanya cited two primary reasons for nullifying Nalukoola’s election:
- Voter Disenfranchisement:
Over 16,600 voters—including the petitioner, Hon. Nambi Faridah Kigongo—were denied the right to vote. The judge stated that this disenfranchisement substantially affected the final result. - Illegal Campaigning:
Nalukoola was found to have personally campaigned on election day at Mbogo Primary School Playground and Kazo Angola LCI Office polling stations—actions that contravened Sections 100(1)(a)(b), 100(2)(a), and 100(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Cap. 177).
As a result, Justice Namanya ruled:
“The election of Luyimbazi Elias Nalukoola as a Directly Elected Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North constituency in Kampala District is set aside. The seat is declared vacant.”
The judge further directed the Electoral Commission to organize a new election for the constituency. Both parties were instructed to bear their own legal costs
The court decision followed a petition filed by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its candidate, Hon. Nambi Faridah Kigongo. The petition accused the Electoral Commission of failing to return results from several polling stations, thereby disenfranchising voters. It also highlighted incidents of voter bribery, illegal campaigning, and obstruction of voters allegedly perpetrated by Nalukoola’s campaign team.
The March 2025 by-election was a rerun following the nullification of Muhammad Ssegirinya’s 2021 election. The campaign was marked by heightened political rivalry, heavy security presence, and allegations from the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) that state forces harassed and intimidated their supporters.
NUP had endorsed Nalukoola, whose short-lived victory has now been overturned. The ruling sets the stage for another heated contest in one of Kampala’s most politically charged constituencies.
The Electoral Commission is expected to announce a roadmap for the fresh election in the coming weeks.
