Esther Nakawooya the former MP Contestant for Nakaseke District Woman MP seat
The Judiciary has deployed two judges to handle six electoral petitions filed at the Luwero High Court arising from the 2026 General Elections.
According to a statement issued by the Judiciary on Saturday, September 12, 2026, hearings for matters before the High Court will commence on Monday, September 14, and run until Friday, November 13, 2026.
Petitions before the Chief Magistrate’s Courts will commence on September 21 and are expected to be concluded by October 30, 2026.
Among the petitions before the Luwero High Court is one filed by former Nakaseke Central Member of Parliament Allan Mayanja Ssebunya, challenging the declaration of Kabuye Kyofatogabye as the winner of the parliamentary race.
The court has already fixed Tuesday, September 15, 2026, for the commencement of the trial. The case will be tried by Justice Samuel Emokor .
Another petition from Nakaseke District was filed by NUP’s Esther Nakawooya, who is challenging the declaration of Sarah Najjuma as the duly elected District Woman Member of Parliament.
Najjuma was declared the winner after garnering 56,151 votes against Nakawooya’s 27,156 votes.
Through her lawyers, M/S Alaka and Company Advocates, Nakawooya sued Najjuma and the Electoral Commission, seeking to overturn the election on grounds of alleged irregularities.
Nakawooya alleges that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct the election in accordance with the law. She cites alleged ballot stuffing, multiple voting, questionable 100 percent voter turnout at some polling stations and alteration of results in favour of the NRM candidate, among other grounds.
The other legal battles before the Luwero High Court include a petition filed by former Youths Central MP Agnes Kirabo, challenging the declaration of Brenda Nabukenya as the duly elected District Woman Member of Parliament.
Nabukenya was declared the winner with 67,399 votes, while her closest rival, Kirabo, was announced to have obtained 55,697 votes.
However, Kirabo disputes the results, claiming that certified copies of declaration forms obtained from the Electoral Commission show that she received 67,883 votes, while Nabukenya obtained 66,864 votes.
According to Kirabo, the figures give her a margin of 1,019 votes over Nabukenya.
Through her lawyers, Messrs. Crane Associated Advocates, Kirabo argues that Nabukenya’s declaration was erroneous, unlawful and contrary to the will of the electorate because it allegedly disregarded the actual votes cast and counted at polling stations.
The Luwero High Court will also hear LC 3 Chairperson petitions involving Tom Badda Kimbowa and Nathan Kironde Ssenfuma .
Another LC 3 Chairperson case involves Sowedi Kijjambu verses Stephen Ssebidde Ssesanga
The Judiciary said at least 100 judicial officers have been assigned to handle 346 parliamentary and local council election petitions across the country.
The judicial team includes 48 High Court judges who have been assigned to handle 157 election petitions, while 52 Chief Magistrates will handle 189 petitions.
The statement indicates that two judges have been assigned to handle six petitions at the Luwero High Court, while one magistrate will handle two petitions arising from the local council elections.
The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has urged the judicial officers to adopt firm and effective case-management measures to ensure the petitions are handled expeditiously.
In Administrative Circular No. 5 of 2026, Justice Abodo directed the assigned judges to give the election petitions their full attention and avoid commitments that could interfere with the scheduled hearing programme.
During the election petition period, the cases will take precedence over ordinary judicial assignments.
“Cases should be fixed promptly and, where practicable, heard on consecutive days. Unnecessary adjournments should be avoided, interlocutory applications handled expeditiously and court directions strictly enforced,” she said.
