Uganda's ruling party, NRM, refused to accept defeat in the Kawempe North by-election, which NUP candidate Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola won. The party leaders made this choice during their Central Executive Committee meeting on Friday, March 14, 2025. The next day, through Secretary General Richard Todwong, they released a statement.
The NRM claimed voters faced violence and unfair treatment at polling stations. They blamed supporters from opposition parties NUP and FDC for these problems. The ruling party also accused election officials of taking away voting rights from 50,000 registered citizens by canceling results from several polling places.
Nalukoola captured the parliament seat with 17,764 votes compared to NRM candidate Namabi Faridah Kigongo, who received 8,593 votes. The election filled the empty seat left after Muhammad Ssegirinya died on January 9, 2025. Officials announced final numbers at Makerere University, showing other candidates far behind - Hanifah Karadi Murerwa earned 381 votes, Sadat Mukiibi gathered 239 votes, and Henry Mubiru Kasacca collected just 100 votes.
After discussing the situation, NRM leaders made three major decisions. They fully rejected the election results as announced by officials. They demanded experts check the entire voting process and ask law enforcement to find people who broke the rules. They also ordered their lawyers to challenge these results in court immediately.
The ruling party believes this election was neither free nor fair. They argue that Uganda faces danger if these actions continue without consequences. The Electoral Commission has not answered these claims yet but previously stated everything happened according to law despite reports of violence and press restrictions.
NUP leaders fired back, saying government forces actually caused intimidation and violence against their supporters and reporters. This marks just the start of a legal fight over who represents Kawempe North. If courts agree with NRM, citizens might need to vote again before the national elections planned for 2026.
The NRM claimed voters faced violence and unfair treatment at polling stations. They blamed supporters from opposition parties NUP and FDC for these problems. The ruling party also accused election officials of taking away voting rights from 50,000 registered citizens by canceling results from several polling places.
Nalukoola captured the parliament seat with 17,764 votes compared to NRM candidate Namabi Faridah Kigongo, who received 8,593 votes. The election filled the empty seat left after Muhammad Ssegirinya died on January 9, 2025. Officials announced final numbers at Makerere University, showing other candidates far behind - Hanifah Karadi Murerwa earned 381 votes, Sadat Mukiibi gathered 239 votes, and Henry Mubiru Kasacca collected just 100 votes.
After discussing the situation, NRM leaders made three major decisions. They fully rejected the election results as announced by officials. They demanded experts check the entire voting process and ask law enforcement to find people who broke the rules. They also ordered their lawyers to challenge these results in court immediately.
The ruling party believes this election was neither free nor fair. They argue that Uganda faces danger if these actions continue without consequences. The Electoral Commission has not answered these claims yet but previously stated everything happened according to law despite reports of violence and press restrictions.
NUP leaders fired back, saying government forces actually caused intimidation and violence against their supporters and reporters. This marks just the start of a legal fight over who represents Kawempe North. If courts agree with NRM, citizens might need to vote again before the national elections planned for 2026.
