Kabale High Court has set October 2nd and October 15th, 2026, for the hearing of two election petitions filed by Asigario Turyagyenda, the NRM flag bearer, and James Owebeyi, the FDC flag bearer, challenging the election of Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu as Bukimbiri County Member of Parliament in the January 15, 2026 General Elections.
The three candidates contested for the Bukimbiri County parliamentary seat. The court, presided over by Hon. Justice Dr. Farouq Lubega, heard that during the January 15 elections, Kwizera, the incumbent Bukimbiri County MP, retained his seat as an independent candidate after securing 14,761 votes. Turyagyenda polled 12,553 votes, while Owebeye received 102 votes.
Election Petition No. 02 of 2026, Owebeyi accused the Electoral Commission and Hon. Kwizera of influencing the removal of his name from the voters’ register, which he said prevented him from participating in the election.
Owebeyi said he notified the Kisoro District Returning Officer, Dan Nayebare, about the matter and requested that the election be postponed until the issue was resolved. However, he said no action was taken.
Owebeyi is asking the court to annul Kwizera’s victory, order a fresh election, and direct Kwizera and the Electoral Commission to compensate him for the alleged losses and meet the costs of the petition.
CUE IN OWEBEYI…..ON THE CASE….RR//ENG//
In a separate petition, Turyagyenda filed Election Petition No. 01 of 2026 at the High Court in Kabale in early April, seeking to nullify Kwizera’s victory over alleged electoral irregularities.
Turyagyenda alleged that his supporters and polling agents were beaten and harassed during voting. He also accused Kwizera of bribing voters and alleged that polling officials manipulated election results in favour of the incumbent, contrary to Electoral Commission guidelines.
CUE IN TURYAGYENDA….ON THE CASE…..RR/ENG//
However, speaking to journalists, MP Kwizera Wagahungu dismissed both petitions as baseless.
Kwizera claimed that Owebeyi did not have a valid National Identification Card, which, according to him, would have prevented him from being nominated. He also said Turyagyenda had no evidence to support his petition.
CUE IN KWIZERA….ON THE MATTER….RR//ENG//
In a one-on-one conversation with Owebeyi, Kwizera said he had no grudge against him but accused Turyagyenda of being the main force behind the election dispute.
He alleged that Turyagyenda had connived with a group of five prominent people to cause chaos in the constituency.
Kwizera further claimed that after the group realised Turyagyenda’s petition was losing ground, they turned their attention to Owebeyi’s petition, which he said had more prospects.
CUE IN KWIZERA…ON THE ISSUE…RR.ENG//
Owebeyi rejected the claim that his petition was being influenced by a group of people, saying such claims could instead suggest that others were trying to impose themselves on him.
Kwizera also claimed that a group of people had held a meeting in Kampala the previous night to support Owebeyi’s petition.
Owebeyi and Kwizera exchanged differing views on the matter.
CUE IN OWEBEYI & KWIZERA…ON THE MATTER…RR/ENG//
