Politics 13 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Court dismisses NRM's election petition against Kawempe Mayor Sserunjogi
The High Court has struck out an election petition filed by NRM's Faruk Bulime against Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjogi, citing legal defects and a failure to follow proper procedures. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/court-dismisses-nrm-candidate-s-petition-against-kawempe-mayor-sserunjogi-5630484
The High Court in Kampala has dismissed an election petition that challenged the victory of Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjogi of the National Unity Platform (NUP). The petition was brought forth by Faruk Bulime, a candidate from the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Justice Flavia K. Nabakooza ruled on October 13, 2026, that the petition was legally flawed and did not present a valid cause of action. Both Sserunjogi and the Electoral Commission had applied to have the petition thrown out, a request the court granted.
The core of the dispute stemmed from Bulime’s allegations that Sserunjogi had not met electoral requirements concerning voter signatures for his nomination. The election results were officially published in the Uganda Gazette on May 16, 2026, initiating a 14-day window for election challenges.
Bulime lodged his initial petition electronically on May 29, 2026, the final day of this statutory period. However, he later filed an amended petition without first obtaining court permission. His legal team argued that a page containing crucial details had been inadvertently omitted during the electronic filing process and that restoring it did not change the case’s substance.
Justice Nabakooza disagreed, noting that the amended petition introduced new allegations regarding compliance with electoral laws and prior complaints. The judge emphasized that since the filing period had expired and responses had been filed, seeking court leave for any amendment was mandatory. The court found that failing to seek this leave could not be excused as a minor technicality.
Furthermore, upon reviewing the original petition, the court found it lacked specific factual details to support a valid claim against the respondents. Consequently, both the original and amended petitions were struck out, and Sserunjogi and the Electoral Commission were awarded costs.