The High Court in Mbarara has fixed 28th of September to commence hearing an election petition filed against Hon Nathan Byanyima the Member of Parliament for Bukanga North Constituency.
Julius Tumuhimbise filed a petition in Mbarara against Nathan Byanyima and the electoral commission seeking an order to annul the results of the election for Bukanga North Constituency.
The Electoral Commission declared Nathan Byanyiima as the winner of the January 2026 election after he collected majority votes against his other five competitors.
Byanyima who was the NRM party flagbearer in the race collected 19,932, votes against his fierce rival independent Julius Tumuhimbise’s 10,745, Clare Mugumya’s 1,226 votes, Jeremiah Kamurali Birungi’s 2,615 votes, Mark Bitakwatine’s 197, Abas Ssemakula’s 136 and Emmanuel Kihembo 152.
The delay to commence the proceedings in the petition was caused by an application filed by Tumuhimbise in the Court seeking that witnesses mentioned in the affidavits and court records be protected from the first respondent and his agents.
Among the allegations raised in the application seeking protection are that witnesses were beaten, bribed, held in basements and other malpractices by the first respondent, his agents and the police.
Peter Walubiri, the counsel to the respondent, said that the lawyers of the petitioners had written to them about the allegations of intimidations raised in the applications and that they had responded to them and asked them to file a formal application in court with evidence.
He asked Court that the mentioned police officers be summoned to court and tell their story so that court can make an informed decision on those allegations.
The High Court Judge Tom Chemutai allowed the application on record and directed both sides to prepare, submit, and serve each other affidavits to the application within seven days.
Judge Chemutai, then fixed 21st September to give his ruling for the application and also fixed 28th September to commence with the proceedings of the main petition-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
