The Chief Magistrates Court in Isingiro District has dropped an election petition challenging the victory of the Local Council III Chairperson for Rugaaga Sub-county. The petition had been filed by Joseph Kiza, who lost the February 4, 2026, election to Francis Kaweesi Twase. According to the Electoral Commission, Twase won the race with 1,658 votes while Kiza polled 1,177 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Kiza petitioned the court, arguing that the election was conducted in violation of provisions of the Local Governments Act, the Electoral Commission Act, and the 1995 Constitution. Kiza alleged that several polling stations, including Rwenturagara Hillside Primary School, Vicenti Memorial School, Rwenturagara Playground, Kyarubamura II, Kabuhembe, and Kyamutura, were marred by ballot stuffing, vote miscounting, and tallying irregularities.
He further claimed that at Katuntu Primary School Polling Station, he was not issued with an official Declaration of Results Form but instead received an informal paper indicating that Twase had obtained 120 votes while he had received only 9 votes. Kiza also pointed to discrepancies at Vicenti Memorial polling station in Kijubwe Nyabubare, where the declaration form reportedly showed him with 5 votes and Twase with 6 votes, despite total votes cast being indicated as 71.
In the petition, Kiza accused the Electoral Commission of failing to ensure proper counting, tallying, and declaration of results, which he argued led to the wrongful declaration of Twase as the winner. He had asked the court to order a recount of votes from all 28 polling stations in Rugaaga Sub-county under court supervision and also sought a declaration that Twase was not validly elected LC III Chairperson.
However, Isingiro District Chief Magistrate Patience Lorna Tukundane ordered the petition withdrawn after Kiza reportedly lost interest in pursuing the matter further. The court also directed that each party bear its own legal costs. Patrick Kajumba, the lawyer representing Francis Kaweesi Twase, said the petitioner is expected to comply with the court order and formally withdraw the petition within 14 days-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
