Court dismisses Workers' MP election petition over improper service

The High Court in Kampala has dismissed an election petition that challenged the victory of five Workers’ Members of Parliament for the 2026-2031 term. Justice Nshimye Allan Paul upheld preliminary objections raised by the elected MPs and the Electoral Commission, effectively ending Election Petition No. HCT-00-CV-EP-0013-2026.

The petition was filed on April 1, 2026, by Michael Bhamusangala Kamba. Kamba sought 18 orders, including the nullification of the election results from March 2, 2026. His core argument centered on alleged widespread irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws, particularly the absence of a national voters’ register for workers.

Kamba contended that the lack of a proper register rendered the nomination of 26 candidates invalid. However, a key issue that led to the dismissal was the method of serving the petition to the respondents. The judge ruled that while electronic service is permitted under certain conditions, the petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the respondents had received and were aware of the court documents.

Specifically, the court rejected the use of WhatsApp messages as proof of service when read receipts were not obtained. This failure to demonstrate proper service meant the court could not proceed with Kamba’s claims regarding electoral irregularities. The ruling means the election results for the five Workers’ MPs stand, and Kamba’s petition has been dismissed with costs.