BY DANIEL MUMBYA: The High Court of Uganda sitting in Iganga has dismissed an election petition filed by Hon. Akamba Paul challenging the election of Hon. Waiswa Joel Azalwa as the directly elected Member of Parliament for Busiki County in Namutumba District.
According to court records, Azalwa was declared the winner with 20,065 votes against Akamba’s 19,093, giving him a victory margin of 972 votes. He was subsequently gazetted on March 2, 2026.
In a judgment electronically delivered on November 10, 2026, Lady Justice Patience T.E. Rubagumya upheld Azalwa’s victory in the January 15, 2026 parliamentary elections, ruling that the petitioner had failed to present sufficient credible evidence to warrant the nullification of the election results.
Akamba had challenged the outcome, citing several alleged electoral irregularities, including ballot stuffing, multiple and unauthorised voting, voter intimidation, violence, bribery and defacement of campaign posters. However, the court found that most of the allegations were not supported by sufficient credible and admissible evidence to justify overturning the election results.
The judge acknowledged that violence and disruption occurred at Budongo (A-I) Namutumba Primary School polling station, where election materials were reportedly grabbed and voting interrupted. Police intervened, recovered the materials and voting subsequently resumed.
The court faulted the Electoral Commission for failing to maintain peace and prevent violence at the polling station. However, it ruled that the incident was confined to one of the 194 polling stations in the constituency and did not substantially affect the overall election results.
The court also found insufficient evidence linking the individuals involved in the alleged violence to Azalwa, either directly or through his knowledge, consent or approval. On allegations of bribery, undue influence, abduction of polling agents and defacement of campaign posters, the judge ruled that the petitioner had failed to provide convincing evidence implicating the returned MP.
The court further dismissed claims of irregularities in the tallying process, noting that the certified tally sheets corresponded with the Declaration of Results Forms. In an exclusive interview following the ruling, Azalwa appealed to the people of Busiki County to put politics behind them and concentrate on their daily activities, saying the time for political campaigns was over and the focus should now shift to work and development.
He accused Akamba of wasting public time and resources through the election petition, saying several development projects had been suspended as a result of the court case. Azalwa further said the court had given him authority to seek a fine against the petitioner, although the specific terms of the court’s order were not provided.