Lawyers Representing Princess Diana Mugenyi, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate in the recent Hoima City Woman MP race is today set to cross-examine Asinansi Nyakato, the Hoima city Woman Member of Parliament to defend herself in the election petition filed against her.
Mugenyi lost the January 15, 2026, election to Asinansi Nyakato of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), who was declared the winner with 17,142 votes against Mugenyi’s 15,197. The 1,945-vote margin separated the two candidates. However, Mugenyi was dissatisfied by the election results and petitioned court to nullify the results.
Through her lawyers, led by Brian Rubaihayo of Mwesigwa Rukutana Advocates, Mugenyi is also asking the High Court to order fresh elections. In her petition, Mugenyi alleges several electoral irregularities, including bribery, voter manipulation, ballot stuffing and non-compliance with electoral laws.
She cites alleged discrepancies between the numbers of ballot papers issued the number of voters who cast ballots and the votes counted at several polling stations.
At Sir Tito Winyi Stadium polling station, for instance, Mugenyi alleges that only 194 ballot papers were issued despite the station having 525 registered voters. At St Mary’s Primary School polling station, she claims 341 people voted, while only 173 ballot papers were counted.
At Hoima Boma polling station, Mugenyi alleges that 118 ballot papers were issued to a station with 471 registered voters.
The petition also points to alleged inconsistencies in declaration of results forms. Mugenyi cites an unsigned declaration form at Hoima Rotary polling station and missing details on valid, invalid and rejected votes at Kitara Secondary School Lower polling station.
She further alleges that ballot stuffing occurred at several polling stations. At Mparo Gasani, for example, she claims 350 ballot papers were counted despite only 146 voters having cast their ballots.
Mugenyi also alleges that the number of votes recorded at Kasasa Catholic Church polling station exceeded the number of voters who participated in the election.
The petition accuses Nyakato and some of her agents of voter bribery. Mugenyi alleges that Nyakato gave 500,000 Shillings to elderly voters in Ruyanja Cell, Kibingo Ward, on January 6, 2026.
She further alleges that one of Nyakato’s agents distributed cash at Budaka Primary School on January 14 and provided money and alcohol to voters at Kikwatamigo Trading Centre.
Mugenyi also alleges that some voters were transferred from neighbouring Kikuube District to Hoima City using their national identification details after they were allegedly misled that the information was required for development-related documentation.
According to the petition, some of the affected voters were subsequently registered at polling stations including Busiisi Primary School, Hoima Library and Kihomboza.
Mugenyi argues that the alleged irregularities substantially affected the outcome of the election, particularly given the 1,945-vote margin between her and Nyakato, and she is asking the court to invalidate the election, nullify Nyakato’s victory and order a fresh election.
Hamphrey Tumwesigye, one of the lawyers representing Mugenyi told Uganda Radio Network (URN) before the court proceedings begun today that their team is set to cross-examine MP Nyakato together with her witnesses on various aspects to defend herself in the election petition.
Tumwesigye says, their team is set and ready to proceed with the case and believes victory will be on their side since they have substantial evidence pinning Nyakato in her alleged election victory.
Meanwhile, Medard Lubega Sseggona, who represents Nyakato, said their team spent the whole of Thursday cross-examining Mugenyi on various aspects of her petition adding that the cross-examination will inform their decision on how to progress with the election petition. The election petition at the Hoima High Court is being presided over by Justice Charles Kasibayo-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
