Court Upholds Tororo MP Shyam Tanna's Victory, Dismisses Yeri Ofwono's Petition

The High Court sitting in Tororo has officially upheld the election of Shyam Jay Tanna as the Member of Parliament for Tororo Municipality. Delivering her ruling virtually, presiding judge Lady Justice Rosemary Bareeba Ngabirano dismissed a challenge brought against Tanna’s victory by former lawmaker Yeri Apollo Ofwono.

The legal battle followed the January 15, 2026, parliamentary polls where Tanna, running as an independent candidate, secured 5,781 votes to defeat the National Resistance Movement flag bearer, Ofwono, who garnered 4,829 votes. Unhappy with the outcome, Ofwono filed a petition in February, alleging voter bribery, ballot stuffing, non-compliance by the Electoral Commission, and a lack of academic qualifications by Tanna.

Justice Bareeba noted in her 22-page judgment that Ofwono failed to prove his allegations on a balance of probabilities. Addressing the bribery claims, the judge stated that the petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence linking the alleged handouts directly to Tanna or his authorized agents. Furthermore, the court observed that Ofwono failed to present essential Declaration of Results forms to substantiate claims of ballot stuffing.

Consequently, the court dismissed the petition and ordered Ofwono to cover the legal costs incurred by both Tanna and the Electoral Commission.

Reacting to the judgment alongside his supporters, Tanna welcomed the ruling as a triumph for the electorate. He urged his rival to join hands with him to foster development in the municipality. Tanna emphasized that he intends to prioritize infrastructure projects, such as road upgrades and improved public utilities, following months of legal distractions.

Read more details in the Daily Monitor report.