The High Court in Iganga has upheld the election of Bernard Mutebi Mugoya as Bulamogi County Member of Parliament, dismissing a petition filed by his rival, Bwiire Sanon Nadeeba, over alleged electoral irregularities, vote rigging, voter bribery and questions surrounding his academic qualifications.
Delivering the judgment on November 9, 2026, Justice Patience T. E. Rubagumya ruled that the petitioner had failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that the alleged irregularities substantially affected the election outcome or that Mutebi personally, or through agents acting with his knowledge and approval, committed electoral offences.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Mukama Sanyu Jamil, the lawyer representing Mutebi, welcomed the decision, saying the allegations that his client rigged votes, lacked the required academic qualifications and bribed voters were not backed by sufficient evidence.
Jamil said the court had properly examined the complaints and found no grounds to overturn his client’s victory.
Bwiire had challenged Mutebi’s election, arguing that his academic documents contained discrepancies in names and dates of birth. He also accused the Electoral Commission of mishandling results at 54 polling stations and alleged violence, ballot stuffing, intimidation of voters, bribery and other electoral offences.
However, Justice Rubagumya held that Bwiire was barred from challenging Mutebi’s academic qualifications after the election because the matter could have been raised during the nomination process.
The judge noted that a similar complaint had earlier been lodged with the Electoral Commission by another voter, Basule Faruku, but was dismissed after the Commission established that Mutebi had legally adopted the name Mutebi Benard Mugoya through a Deed Poll.
On the alleged electoral irregularities, the court found that results from Universal Apostles Church polling station in Kanankamba Parish, Namugongo Sub-county, had not been returned following a disruption during the counting process.
The station had 315 registered voters. However, the judge ruled that even if all the 315 votes had gone to Bwiire, they would not have overturned Mutebi’s winning margin of 7,770 votes.
Official results showed that Mutebi garnered 29,268 votes against Bwiire’s 21,498.
The court consequently dismissed the petition, confirmed Mutebi’s election and awarded costs to the respondents, including Mutebi and the Electoral Commission.
