Kampala – The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has formally rejected the results of the Kawempe North by-election, in which Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the candidate from the National Unity Platform (NUP), emerged victorious. The decision came after the NRM's Central Executive Committee (CEC) held a meeting on Friday, March 14, 2025, to deliberate on the matter.

In a statement issued by NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong on Saturday, the party alleged that the by-election, which was held to fill the seat left vacant by the late Muhammad Ssegirinya, was marred by violence, voter suppression, and electoral malpractices orchestrated by opposition supporters. The NRM claimed that these irregularities significantly impacted the electoral process.

“The acts of violence reported at several polling stations in Kawempe North were carried out by supporters and sympathizers of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC),” the statement read.

Furthermore, the NRM accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of disenfranchising over 50,000 registered voters by canceling election results from several polling stations. According to the party, these actions unfairly influenced the final outcome.

Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola of NUP won the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election with 17,764 votes, defeating his closest rival, Namabi Faridah Kigongo of NRM, who garnered 8,593 votes. The final tally, announced at Makerere University, showed other candidates with the following results: Hanifah Karadi Murerwa (Independent) with 381 votes, Sadat Mukiibi (FDC) with 239 votes, and Henry Mubiru Kasacca (DP) with 100 votes.

Following the meeting, the CEC of the NRM passed several resolutions:

1. A total rejection of the by-election results as declared by the Electoral Commission.

2. A call for a forensic audit into the electoral process, with an appeal for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those responsible for alleged irregularities.

3. Legal action to challenge the results, with instructions for the party’s legal team to file an electoral petition in court.

The NRM contends that the election was neither free nor fair, emphasizing that Uganda's democracy is at risk if such “undemocratic behaviors” are not addressed.

As of now, the Electoral Commission has not responded to the NRM’s accusations. However, the EC had previously maintained that the election was conducted in accordance with the law, despite reports of violence, media suppression, and the intimidation of opposition supporters.

National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders have countered that the true threat to democracy in Kawempe North was state-sponsored intimidation and violence targeting opposition activists and journalists.

With NRM preparing to challenge the results in court, the legal dispute over Kawempe North’s parliamentary seat is far from over. If the court upholds the NRM’s petition, a new by-election could be ordered, potentially reshaping the political landscape of the constituency ahead of the 2026 general elections.

The seat became vacant following the death of MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, 37, on January 9, 2025. The outcome of this legal battle will be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for Uganda's political dynamics in the coming years.