Court Throws Out 97 Affidavits in Kampala Central Election Petition

In a significant development for the Kampala Central election petition, the High Court in Kampala has expunged 97 affidavits filed by challenger David Lewis Rubongoya. Justice Flavia Nabakooza ruled that these affidavits, submitted months after the initial petition, were improperly introduced without court permission, thereby restricting the evidence Rubongoya can present against the election of Minsa Kabanda.

The court also dismissed Rubongoya’s claim that 23 polling stations in Nakasero II and Kololo II were situated in restricted security zones. Justice Nabakooza stated that such concerns should have been raised with the Electoral Commission prior to the January 15, 2026 election.

However, the judge decided to retain other pre-election complaints concerning Kabanda’s nomination, academic credentials, and discrepancies in her names. Rubongoya argued, and the court agreed, that he could not have practically raised these issues before the election as he only obtained the necessary certified documents after the polls.

The ruling stemmed from consolidated applications by Kabanda and the Electoral Commission, which sought to remove pre-election complaints and strike out the numerous affidavits. Rubongoya had challenged Kabanda’s victory, citing issues with her nomination, qualifications, names, and polling station locations.

While the complaint about polling station locations was dismissed as a pre-election matter that should have been addressed earlier, the court recognized that Rubongoya faced practical barriers in challenging Kabanda’s nomination and qualifications before the election. The 97 affidavits were deemed irregularly filed and were expunged from the court record.

The petition will now proceed to a scheduling conference, with the remaining grounds forming the basis for the substantive hearing.

Source: Nile Post