High Court Upholds Minister Namuganza’s Bukono County Victory Despite Electoral Commission Flaws

State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Persis Namuganza has successfully defended her Bukono County parliamentary seat. The High Court in Iganga dismissed an election petition filed against her by rival candidate Emmanuel Maganda Katoko following the January 15, 2026 general election.

Justice Patience Rubagumya ruled that the petitioner failed to prove that the alleged electoral offenses and irregularities substantially affected the final outcome. Namuganza, running as an independent candidate, had secured victory with 15,696 votes against Maganda’s 14,431 votes, winning by a narrow margin of 1,265.

Maganda’s legal challenge accused the Electoral Commission of mismanagement, citing ballot stuffing, multiple voting, and mathematically inconsistent Declaration of Results forms. He also pointed to suspicious 100 per cent voter turnouts at specific polling stations and alleged incidents of violence at locations like Namakoko Catholic Church and Kitaigalwa Mosque.

While Justice Rubagumya acknowledged these irregularities and explicitly faulted the Electoral Commission for failing to maintain peace and order at affected polling stations, she concluded the incidents did not cross the threshold required to nullify an election under the Parliamentary Elections Act.

Furthermore, the court dismissed accusations of voter bribery, which included claims that Namuganza distributed cash, hoes, sugar, and kitengye fabric to voters and youth groups. The judge ruled that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient, credible evidence linking the minister or her agents to illegal voter influence.

Claims regarding unlawful detention of polling agents and defamatory character statements were similarly thrown out due to a lack of independent evidence. Concluding the judgment, Justice Rubagumya ordered the petitioner to cover the legal costs of the case. Read more details of the ruling on The Observer.