Court declares Nalukoola’s election as MP Null and Void.

The High Court in Kampala has nullified the election of Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as Member of Parliament for Kawempe Division North, following a successful petition by National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Faridah Nambi Kigongo.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Bernard Namanya, the court found that the March 2025 by-election was marred by significant irregularities that compromised the integrity of the electoral process. The judge declared the seat vacant and ordered the Electoral Commission to organize a fresh election.

Justice Namanya emphasized the importance of upholding the constitutional right to vote and ensuring electoral integrity. The court cited two critical grounds for setting aside Nalukoola’s election:

• Non-compliance with the Parliamentary Elections Act.The Electoral Commission failed to transmit results from 14 polling stations, thereby disenfranchising 16,640 voters. The court concluded that this failure substantially affected the outcome of the election.
• Electoral malpractice. The court found that the 1st respondent, Nalukoola himself, personally campaigned on polling day, an act prohibited under Section 100 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, amounting to an illegal practice.

In a balanced move, the court further directed that each party shall bear its own legal costs, underlining its commitment to fairness and constitutional rights.

The judgment followed a petition by Faridah Nambi Kigongo, the NRM candidate, who challenged the validity of Nalukoola’s 2025 election victory.

Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi (NUP) Was  declared the winner of the Kawempe North by-election, securing 17,764 votes, while his closest rival, Farida Nambi (NRM), garnered 8,586 votes.

The election was marred by reports of brutality, with some journalists still hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the coverage.