Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola has filed a notice of appeal challenging the High Court’s decision that nullified his victory in the Kawempe North by-election.
The court had cited serious electoral irregularities that it said substantially affected the final outcome.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Bernard Namanya, the court found that the Electoral Commission (EC) failed to count, declare, and tally results from 14 polling stations with over 16,000 registered voters.
The court said this disenfranchised a significant portion of the electorate, including the petitioner, Faridah Nambi Kigongo.
Justice Namanya also faulted Nalukoola for personally campaigning on election day at Mbogo Primary School Playground and Kazo Angola LCI Office—an act that contravenes the Parliamentary Elections Act.
The court ordered a fresh election in Kawempe North and directed each party to bear its own legal costs. However, Nalukoola, through his lawyer George Musisi, insists the irregularities did not materially affect the election result and has moved to appeal the ruling.
“I did not bribe voters, and the outcome would have been the same,” Nalukoola maintained.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has welcomed the ruling and announced it will not challenge the judgment.
“We appreciate the decision of the court and will not appeal,” said EC litigation counsel Eric Sabiiti, adding that despite possible grounds to contest the court’s interpretation of “substantiality,” the evidence of illegal campaigning by Nalukoola outweighed such a move.