High Court Fort Portal: Bundibugyo Woman MP Election Petition October Hearing Set

• The High Court in Fort Portal has scheduled a three-day substantive hearing from October 12-14 for Election Petition No. 002 of 2026, challenging the Bundibugyo District Woman MP election.
• Petitioner Kapalaya Donna Kamuli alleges systematic vote manipulation, agent intimidation, early polling station closures, and altered declaration forms against declared winner Josephine Bebona Babungi.
• Babungi, an NRM candidate, was declared winner with 34,169 votes, while Kapalaya received 32,182, a difference of 1,987 votes.
• Allegations include specific accusations against the Bundibugyo returning officer Joseph Tumwijukye and District Police Commander Stella Feta for interfering with the tallying process and agent access.
• Parties have agreed to complete evidence filing by September 21 and prepare a joint memorandum by September 29, prior to the October hearing.

This case provides a detailed example of the types of irregularities and evidence presented in Ugandan election petitions, offering insights into the legal arguments and procedural timelines for challenging parliamentary election results.

The High Court in Fort Portal has scheduled a substantive hearing from October 12-14 to address a petition challenging the outcome of the Bundibugyo District Woman MP election. Justice Gertrude Joanita Bushara, presiding in Court Hall One, will oversee Election Petition No. 002 of 2026, which was lodged by Kapalaya Donna Kamuli against Josephine Bebona Babungi. Babungi, representing the National Resistance Movement (NRM), was officially declared the victor of the January 2026 parliamentary contest.

According to the election results detailed within the petition, Babungi secured 34,169 votes. Her closest contender, Kapalaya, garnered 32,182 votes, resulting in a margin of 1,987 votes separating the two candidates. Other contenders in the race included independent candidate Anne Amanya, who received 8,740 votes, NUP candidate Jennifer Kabasinguzi with 516 votes, and Harriet Masika, who polled 22 votes. This Bundibugyo Woman MP election petition October hearing marks a critical stage in resolving the dispute over the parliamentary seat.

Kapalaya Donna Kamuli's petition outlines numerous grounds for challenging the declared results, asserting that the tallying and declaration process was marred by irregularities that fundamentally altered the final outcome. A central claim involves systematic vote manipulation, where increments of 20 to 40 votes were allegedly added to Babungi's tally, while similar numbers were simultaneously deducted from Kapalaya's count at over 79 polling stations, thereby creating an artificial advantage for the incumbent.

Further allegations include the intimidation or obstruction of Kapalaya's polling agents, particularly in remote areas of Bughendera County where she claims significant support. The petitioner also points to the alleged premature closure of polling stations in parts of Bwamba County, another region where she asserts strong backing, and the alteration of declaration forms from more than three sub-counties in hard-to-reach locales. The petition specifically accuses Bundibugyo returning officer Joseph Tumwijukye of manipulating figures during tallying and District Police Commander Stella Feta of removing Kapalaya's agent, Katusabe Jane, from the tally room. These Uganda electoral fraud allegations highlight a pattern of alleged interference.

Kapalaya's legal challenge also details instances where her agents reportedly faced intimidation in areas experiencing ballot stuffing and other irregularities, citing specific locations such as Harugali, Mbatya, Ngamba, Kasitu, Ntandi, Bubandi, and Nyahuka within Bughendera and Bwamba. Questions are also raised about ballots discovered outside polling areas in Tokwe and Butama Mitunda sub-counties, with the petition seeking clarity on whether these were included in the final tally or if their absence impacted the results. Additionally, the petition claims that votes cast for NUP candidate Jennifer Kabasinguzi and independent Harriet Masika were reduced, with some of these votes allegedly being credited to Babungi, ultimately suggesting that the Electoral Commission's declared results did not accurately reflect the will of the voters.

The setting of the three-day substantive hearing follows an agreement between the involved parties on specific timelines for completing the pre-hearing phase. Kapalaya's legal representatives, JByamukama Advocates, informed the Uganda High Court Fort Portal election proceedings that all parties are expected to finalize the filing of their evidence by September 21. Subsequently, a joint memorandum is slated for preparation by September 29, streamlining the issues for the court's consideration.

This structured approach to the Election Petition No. 002 of 2026 Uganda underscores the procedural rigor involved in challenging parliamentary election results. The agreed-upon schedule ensures that all necessary documentation and arguments are formally presented before Justice Bushara commences the full hearing in October, allowing for an organized and efficient judicial review of the Josephine Bebona Babungi election challenge.

This case provides a detailed example of the types of irregularities and evidence presented in Ugandan election petitions, offering insights into the legal arguments and procedural timelines for challenging parliamentary election results. The extensive allegations, ranging from systematic vote manipulation and agent intimidation to the alteration of official forms and the alleged interference by electoral officials, underscore the complexities often encountered in electoral disputes across the country. The court's findings on these matters could establish significant precedents for future election challenges in Uganda.

Lawyers advising political candidates or involved in electoral litigation should closely monitor the court's proceedings and ultimate findings. The resolution of the Kapalaya Donna Kamuli election petition will offer valuable insights into how the judiciary interprets and addresses claims of procedural breaches and electoral fraud. The outcome will not only determine the legitimate representative for Bundibugyo District Woman MP but also contribute to the evolving jurisprudence surrounding electoral integrity in Uganda.

This case provides a detailed example of the types of irregularities and evidence presented in Ugandan election petitions, offering insights into the legal arguments and procedural timelines (evidence filing, joint memorandum) for challenging parliamentary election results. Lawyers advising political candidates or involved in electoral litigation should monitor the court's findings on vote manipulation, agent intimidation, and procedural breaches, as these could establish precedents for future election challenges in Uganda.

Source: Original reporting via the provided article