By Samuel Mwesigwa
The High Court in Kampala has nullified the election of Hon. Nalukoola Luyimbazi as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe North, citing widespread electoral irregularities and disenfranchisement. The ruling followed a petition by NRM candidate Faridah Nambi, who claimed that over 16,654 registered voters, including herself, were unable to vote due to chaos allegedly orchestrated by agents of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Justice Musa Ssekaana ruled that the confusion compromised the integrity of the vote and held both the Electoral Commission and political actors responsible. “The voters of Kawempe North were denied their constitutional right to freely express their will. This election cannot stand,” he concluded.
Nalukoola’s Legal Team to Appeal
Nalukoola’s legal team has swiftly responded, filing a petition to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn the High Court’s decision. “We believe this judgment undermines the will of the people,” said Counsel Julius Semakula, a member of Nalukoola’s defense. “We shall pursue justice at the appellate level and ensure the people of Kawempe North are not robbed of their chosen leader.”
Public Frustration and Concerns
The ruling has reignited public frustration and raised alarm over the continued politicization of Uganda’s electoral system. Stanley Mukisa, a parliamentary aspirant in Kigulu South, criticized the culture of repeated elections and court battles, branding them as a drain on the national treasury and public morale.
“It’s time the government starts planning for Uganda, not just political parties,” Mukisa said. “The last by-election cost taxpayers dearly, and now we’re being told to prepare for another. This isn’t democracy—it’s waste.” Mukisa added that since the election of Muhammad Ssegirinya, Kawempe North has remained politically unstable.
Electoral Commission’s Response
Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, assured the public that the EC will act according to the law once formal communication is received. “We are prepared to organize another election, but only upon receiving official instructions from the courts. The Electoral Commission remains committed to upholding constitutional order.”
A Broader Problem
The crisis in Kawempe North reflects a broader problem in Uganda’s political landscape: a pattern of elections marred by violence, legal disputes, and endless financial waste. Critics argue that such cycles are not just administrative failures but symptoms of a deeper, more dangerous disease—selfish politics over national development.
“A Nation Held Hostage: Nalukoola’s Fall and Uganda’s Politics of Vanity” is not just a headline—it is a reality that Ugandans live through every election season. The country spends billions on electoral processes that often serve narrow political interests, rather than genuine democratic engagement. Roads remain unpaved, hospitals underfunded, and schools neglected, even as the political elite stage repeat elections and legal dramas.
Call for Reforms
Constitutional lawyer Isaac Christopher Lubogo warns that while Uganda’s legal framework allows for electoral appeals, justice is often strangled by time. “The law becomes a stage where the people’s voices are lost in paperwork and court delays,” Lubogo noted. “Uganda must decide whether elections are about democracy—or drama.” He emphasized the need for reforms that guarantee not just fairness, but timely fairness.
Uncertainty for Kawempe North
With no representative in Parliament and uncertainty about when or if a by-election will be held, the people of Kawempe North find themselves in political limbo—again. Rose Namuddu, a market vendor, expressed her disappointment. “We vote and they take it away. Every time. Are we even citizens, or just spectators in their game?”
As the Court of Appeal prepares to weigh in, the fate of Kawempe North hangs in the balance. But beyond the legal arguments, the bigger question remains: How long will Uganda keep paying the price of politics at the cost of progress?
