Five witnesses have been lined up to testify when the Mbarara Woman Member of Parliament election petition resumes at Mbarara High Court, with the dispute centred on the academic qualifications and documents of the declared winner, Loydah Kyarikunda Muhimbura.
The petition was scheduled to proceed on Monday but was delayed after lawyer Caleb Alaka, representing the first respondent, raised a preliminary objection challenging some of the affidavits filed by the petitioner. Alaka also questioned whether affidavits submitted by a third party in July 2026 should be admitted as supplementary affidavits.
The witnesses expected to testify include former Mbarara Woman MP and petitioner Margaret Ayebare Rwebyambu, incumbent MP Loydah Kyarikunda Muhimbura, Zephanas Muheesi, the Principal of Kabale School of Comprehensive Nursing, Brian Twesigye, and another witness from the Electoral Commission, which is the second respondent in the petition.
Rwebyambu filed the petition seeking to nullify the election of Muhimbura as Mbarara District Woman Member of Parliament. Muhimbura, who contested on the National Resistance Movement-NRM ticket, was declared winner of the January 2026 parliamentary election after polling 31,364 votes against Rwebyambu’s 16,021. In her petition, Rwebyambu challenges Muhimbura’s academic qualifications and the validity of the documents she presented.
Rwebyambu’s lawyer, Yusuf Mutembuli, told the court that the central issue for determination is whether Muhimbura possesses the required academic qualifications and whether the documents supporting those qualifications are genuine and legally valid. On the other hand, Alaka told the court that the defence intends to establish that Muhimbura holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a Diploma in Palliative Care.
Justice Tom Chemutai said the disputed affidavits did not affect the substance of the main petition and advised the parties to proceed with examination and cross-examination of witnesses. The judge adjourned the matter to Tuesday to continue with the hearing, when the witnesses are expected to be cross-examined.
The petition will ultimately require the court to determine whether the academic qualifications and documents presented by Muhimbura meet the legal requirements for holding the office of Woman Member of Parliament-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
