The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has strongly criticized remarks made by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni regarding the disputed Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament election, warning that such comments risk undermining constitutional principles and public trust in key state institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the ULS, Vice President Asiimwe Anthony said the President’s statements at the NRM Leaders’ Retreat in Kyankwanzi on April 8, 2026, appeared to suggest interference in an electoral dispute involving NRM candidate Justine Nameere and NUP’s Rose Nalubowa.
According to the ULS, concerns about the election are not new. In its Election Observer Report released earlier this year, the society highlighted serious irregularities in the process, including a court-ordered recount that resulted in Nameere being declared the winner amid allegations of judicial misconduct.
The lawyers’ body further alleged that reported engagements involving the President, the Electoral Commission, and the Uganda Police Force, particularly regarding changes in key electoral and security officials, could have compromised the independence of these institutions.
Citing Articles 62 and 128 of the Constitution, the ULS emphasized that both the Electoral Commission and the Judiciary must operate free from external influence. Article 62 guarantees the independence of the Electoral Commission, while Article 128 protects the autonomy of the courts and judicial officers.
The society stressed that election disputes should be resolved strictly through lawful and established judicial processes, without pressure or commentary from the Executive or any other actors that could be perceived as influencing outcomes.
ULS warned that perceived interference in such matters risks eroding public confidence, weakening the rule of law, and setting a troubling precedent for constitutional governance.
The body has called on all stakeholders, including the Executive, to respect institutional independence and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution in handling electoral disputes.
