High Court Sets September Hearing Dates for Petition Challenging Namuganza’s Election Win

A petition challenging the parliamentary election of State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Persis Namuganza, will be heard later this month after the High Court sitting in Iganga fixed dates for the case to proceed.

According to the schedule set by the court, affidavits filed in the matter will be examined and the issues for determination agreed upon on September 23, with the substantive hearing expected to open on September 28 before Justice Patience Lubagumya.

The petition was filed by Emmanuel Maganda Katoko, who stood on an NRM ticket against Namuganza in the Bukono County race earlier this year. Namuganza had run as an independent candidate after failing to secure the NRM flag. In his petition, Maganda alleges that the parliamentary contest was marred by violence, vote-rigging, ballot stuffing and other electoral irregularities, claims that are yet to be tested in court and that Namuganza’s side has not conceded.

During a pre-hearing session, lawyers for the minister reportedly questioned the timing of additional affidavits filed on Maganda’s behalf, arguing that no fresh justification had been given for filing them months after leave was first granted in April. Maganda’s legal team countered that the respondent retained a right to respond to the affidavits and that they were ready to proceed with presenting their evidence.

Speaking outside court, a representative for the petitioner said the team was ready to move forward with the case once the September 23 session on the affidavits was concluded.

Election petitions have become a recurring feature of Uganda’s post-election landscape this cycle, with several results from the last polling round contested in courts around the country. The outcome of the Bukono County case could have implications for how similar petitions questioning irregularities in the January elections are argued and decided in the weeks ahead, though a final ruling is not expected before the substantive hearing gets underway later this month.