Politics 12 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Lawyer Pushes for Clear Rules on Vote Recounts Amid Tampering Disputes
A Kampala lawyer is calling on Parliament to update Uganda's Parliamentary Elections Act with explicit guidelines on handling vote recount disputes involving potential tampering. He highlighted issues from a recent Hoima court case where a recount was halted over ballot irregularities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/lawyer-calls-for-clear-law-on-vote-recount-5389466
A prominent Kampala lawyer, Brian Kupper Rubihayo from Mwesigwa Rukutana Advocates, has urged the government and Electoral Commission to revise the Parliamentary Elections Act. He seeks a defined legal framework for what constitutes tampering with election materials during vote recounts.
Rubihayo points out that while courts can order recounts, the law lacks specifics on tampering cases, forcing reliance on judicial precedents. He advocates for Parliament to codify these principles into statute.
His comments follow a Hoima Magistrates Court ruling that stopped a recount in a female youth MP contest between Diana Ampeire and Mercy Kanyesigye. Kanyesigye won by 18 votes, but Ampeire sought a recount alleging miscounted votes. The court halted proceedings after finding repeated serial numbers on ballot booklets, despite matching vote counts.
Rubihayo, who represented Ampeire, argued the decision overreached, as intact seals should allow recounts without auditing print quality. He referenced a 2001 case involving Winnie Byanyima where tampering halted a recount.
EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi responded that the commission only implements existing laws and cannot create new ones.