The hearing of an election petition challenging the election of Dr Chris Baryomunsi as Member of Parliament for Kinkiizi East County failed to take off on Thursday at the Rukungiri Court Circuit.
The petition was filed in March by former Kanungu District Chairperson Sam Arineitwe Kajojo, who is challenging Baryomunsi’s victory in the 2026 General Elections.
Baryomunsi, who was serving as Minister for ICT and National Guidance at the time of the election, retained the Kinkiizi East seat with 23,830 votes against Kajojo’s 20,739. The contest also attracted Ruth Karungi Turyakira, Godfrey Akampa, FDC’s Arans Mark Tabaruka, PFF’s Benedicto Nuwamanya, and independent candidates Alex Byamukama and Aggrey Naturinda.
But in an election petition filed through Ngaruye, Ruhindi Spencer & Co. Advocates, Kajojo alleges that Baryomunsi’s victory was tainted by several electoral irregularities. He claims that voters were bribed in violation of Electoral Commission guidelines and that his polling agents were assaulted and forced out of several polling stations by Baryomunsi’s supporters.
Kajojo also challenges the tallying process, alleging that results from some polling stations exceeded the number of registered voters. He argues that the discrepancies point to possible ballot stuffing and vote rigging and has asked the court to nullify Baryomunsi’s election.
Justice Richard Wejuli Wabwire, the visiting judge handling election petitions at the Rukungiri Court Circuit, had scheduled the hearing for September 24 to allow the parties to file additional affidavits and respond to the 36 affidavits already on the court record.
However, when the matter came up on Thursday, Kajojo’s lawyers, led by Boniface Ruhindi Ngaruye, presented 44 witnesses whom they intended to call to support the petition.
Baryomunsi was absent from court but was represented by a legal team led by former Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana. His lawyers also filed additional affidavits responding to the allegations raised in the petition and asked the court to require the witnesses to present their evidence in writing.
The court, however, did not proceed to the anticipated cross-examination of witnesses. Instead, Justice Wabwire directed the parties to follow a schedule for filing and exchanging outstanding documents and written submissions by October 12, 2026. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to December 16, 2026, for further mention.
Speaking to the media after the session, Rukutana said he and his client were ready to proceed with the hearing. Kajojo, however, said he had come to court with 44 witnesses expecting them to be given an opportunity to present evidence, including video recordings, and expressed disappointment that the hearing had not proceeded as anticipated-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
