The High Court in Mubende has overturned the election of Dedan Mubangizi as Buweekula South Member of Parliament, nullifying his victory on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket and directing that a fresh election be conducted.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, November 13, 2026, by Justice Mary Babirye, followed an election petition brought by independent candidate Fred Tumwesigye, who disputed the outcome of the parliamentary race, citing alleged failures and irregularities during the electoral process.
In her judgment, Justice Babirye ruled that the concerns raised in the petition were substantial enough to invalidate the election results, subsequently declaring the constituency parliamentary seat vacant.
Among the issues that influenced the court’s decision were missing ballot papers, absent declaration of results forms and questions surrounding the security and proper handling of sensitive electoral materials.
The judge also considered a major discrepancy involving 1,426 valid votes, which reportedly emerged when the original election tally was compared with figures obtained during a subsequent recount.
The difference between the two sets of results raised questions about the accuracy of the declared outcome and the reliability of the electoral records used to determine the winner.
The court’s findings further highlighted concerns about the management of election materials and the failure to account for important documents required to authenticate the results.
Tumwesigye’s successful petition now places him in a position to challenge for the parliamentary seat once again, following the court’s decision to invalidate Mubangizi’s election.
For Mubangizi and the ruling NRM, the judgment represents a significant political setback, particularly after the party had secured the constituency through the disputed electoral contest.
The fresh election order means Buweekula South voters will have another opportunity to choose their parliamentary representative. The Electoral Commission is expected to organise a new poll in compliance with the court’s directives.
The ruling also brings renewed attention to the importance of transparent vote counting, proper preservation of electoral materials and accurate documentation during elections.
By overturning the results, the High Court has reinforced the principle that electoral victories must be supported by credible records and a process that meets the required legal standards.
The political contest in Buweekula South is therefore far from over, with candidates expected to return to the campaign trail as the constituency prepares for another parliamentary election.
