Politics 7 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Amelia Kyambadde faces scrutiny over resignation as election petitioner skips appeal
Mawokota County North MP Amelia Kyambadde was questioned in court regarding her resignation from a public office before her election, while a former candidate failed to appeal alleged poll alterations. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/amelia-kyambadde-grilled-over-resignation-as-former-candidate-skips-poll-appeal-5622754
Mawokota County North Member of Parliament, Amelia Anne Kyambadde, found herself under intense questioning at the High Court concerning her previous role as Senior Presidential Advisor on Industry. The petitioner’s legal team pressed Kyambadde on whether she had effectively resigned from this public office prior to her nomination for the parliamentary seat.
During cross-examination, Kyambadde was challenged on the procedural validity of her resignation. Specifically, questions were raised about why her resignation letter was addressed to the Secretary in the Office of the President and not directly to the President, her appointing authority. The court heard that no documented proof of the President’s acceptance of her resignation was presented, nor was a handover report filed.
Further complicating matters, it was revealed that the resignation documents submitted to the court lacked an official receiving stamp from the Electoral Commission (EC). Additionally, Kyambadde acknowledged that agents representing the petitioner, Hillary Innocent Kiyaga, received Declaration of Results (DR) forms on polling day. This point was highlighted by Kiyaga’s lawyers as evidence supporting their claim that the DR forms presented in court had been tampered with after the election.
Meanwhile, the final witness for the petitioner, Sam Akol, a former parliamentary candidate for the same constituency, testified that he noticed alleged alterations on DR forms but did not formally report it to the EC. Akol cited emotional distress from losing the election as the reason for not lodging a complaint with the district returning officer. He explained that he later observed crossed-out entries and errors on several DR forms.
Kyambadde’s legal counsel, Anthony Bazira, countered claims of EC unlawfully altering DR forms, suggesting any notations were made by individual presiding officers. The petition, filed by Kiyaga under the National Unity Platform (NUP) banner, seeks to overturn Kyambadde’s victory for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, citing electoral irregularities.