Vincent Ssempijja
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I As courts begin to receive a growing number of petitions arising from Uganda’s 2026 General Elections, defeated candidates are stepping forward as complainants, challenging outcomes they say were shaped by serious electoral flaws.
One of the latest cases has been filed by Vincent Ssempijja, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate in the Kalungu East parliamentary race, who is seeking a court order for a recount of votes cast in the constituency. Ssempijja, a former Minister of Defence, insists that the officially declared results do not reflect the true will of the electorate and must be subjected to judicial scrutiny.
Ssempijja appeared before the Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he lodged an application seeking court intervention ahead of the commencement of his substantive election petition. In his filing, the complainant asks the court to preserve electoral materials and allow for a fresh tally of votes, arguing that the integrity of the process was compromised.
According to the application, the polling exercise conducted last week was marred by what Ssempijja describes as gross irregularities. He contends that these anomalies affected vote counting and tallying, ultimately denying him victory in what he says was a closely contested race.
Official results released by the Electoral Commission declared National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Yusuf Kiruluuta Nkeretanyi the winner with 15,473 votes. Ssempijja was declared runner-up with 13,219 votes. The remaining candidates trailed far behind, with Francis Katabazi, an Independent, polling 649 votes, Katongole Deogratious securing 637 votes, Irene Nanyazi garnering 485, Mathias Kintu receiving 189 votes, and Democratic Party candidate Asuman Kabonge finishing last with 90 votes.
The Kalungu East petition mirrors a broader post-election pattern in which candidates who lost parliamentary and local government races are increasingly turning to the courts as the final avenue for redress. Legal experts say the petitions are likely to test the strength of Uganda’s electoral dispute resolution mechanisms and the credibility of the 2026 polls.
Court is expected to fix a hearing date for Ssempijja’s petition in the coming days, after which his legal team will present evidence to support the allegations. As more complainants emerge, the judiciary is bracing for a wave of election-related cases that could shape the post-election political landscape.
About the Author
