The petitioner challenging the election of Isingiro West County MP Anthony Tumwesigye has asked the High Court to provide security protection for witnesses, citing alleged intimidation ahead of the hearing of the election dispute.
Former Isingiro West County MP Rauben Arinaitwe filed the application through his lawyer, Dr James Akampumuriza, saying witnesses in the constituency were being intimidated and that the petitioner has evidence to support the claim.
Arinaitwe, who contested the January 2026 parliamentary election on the National Resistance Movement-NRM ticket, filed a petition challenging the declaration of independent candidate Anthony Tumwesigye as the winner. Tumwesigye was declared the winner with 9,047 votes against Arinaitwe’s 7,569.
Other candidates included Witta Nelson, who obtained 4,468 votes; Emmanuel Byamugisha Rwabishari with 211; Methodius Aturinzire of the Democratic Party with 18; and Premas Niwandida of the Forum for Democratic Change with 48 votes. In the main petition, Arinaitwe is seeking a declaration that the election was conducted in violation of electoral laws and principles and that Tumwesigye was not validly elected.
However, before the substantive hearing could begin, Akampumuriza told Justice Isaac Bonny Teko that the petitioner had received information of alleged intimidation of witnesses in Isingiro West. He asked the court to allow the petitioner two weeks to prepare, file and serve affidavits supporting the application.
Eric Sabiti, representing the Electoral Commission, objected to the application and asked the court not to grant the petitioner additional time, saying the respondents were ready to proceed with the main petition. Lawyer Edgar Ayebabzibwe, representing Tumwesigye, also objected to the application.
Ayebabzibwe told the court that he had already prepared 92 affidavits in preparation for the hearing and was ready to challenge the evidence filed by the petitioner. Justice Isaac Bonny Teko, however, allowed the application and granted the petitioner’s legal team two weeks to prepare written submissions and serve the respondents.
The judge fixed October 16, 2026, for a ruling on the application. The main election petition will proceed after the court delivers its ruling on the witness protection application-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
