NRM candidate Birungi Jackline Kobusingye has withdrawn her election petition challenging Harriet Nakwedde’s victory as Woman Member of Parliament for Kayunga District. Kobusingye withdrew the petition on Wednesday before Justice Godfrey Himbaza at the High Court in Mukono, ending a legal challenge that began with an application for a vote recount at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kayunga.
Her lawyer, Isaac Nambijja Kiwanuka, told the court that Kobusingye was no longer able to pursue the case because of personal difficulties, including the recent death of her father and an ongoing succession dispute over his property.
He asked the court to allow each party to bear its own costs. Nakwedde, who was represented by Andrew Wabwezi of WAK Advocates and Derrick Ruzima of PACE Advocates, did not oppose the withdrawal and agreed that Kobusingye should not be ordered to pay her costs.
Wabwezi, however, said Kobusingye had pursued several legal avenues before withdrawing the High Court petition. He said she first sought a recount at the Chief Magistrate’s Court, lost the application, filed a revision that was later withdrawn, and subsequently petitioned the High Court.
Wabwezi said the defence had also raised preliminary points of law that could have brought the petition to an end. Nakwedde told the court that she had forgiven Kobusingye and would not seek costs from her.
She said the legal challenge had taken her through a recount application, a revision and finally the High Court petition. Nakwedde said she had surrendered the matter to God from the beginning and was ready to continue serving the people of Kayunga.
However, lawyers representing the Electoral Commission, Kevin Amojong and Idris Kiwanuka Umar, asked the court to order Kobusingye to pay the Commission’s costs.
They argued that the petitioner had used the court’s time and resources and said the petition contained several legal weaknesses that would have led to its dismissal even if it had proceeded to hearing.
Justice Himbaza permitted Kobusingye to withdraw the petition and confirmed Nakwedde as the duly elected Woman Member of Parliament for Kayunga District.
The judge deferred the issue of costs to Friday, when he will rule on whether Kobusingye should meet the Electoral Commission’s costs. The decision will be based on the record in the Electronic Court Management Information System.
Nakwedde was declared winner of the January 15, 2026, election with 20,753 votes. Independent candidate and former MP Aidah Nantaba came second with 16,138 votes, while Kobusingye obtained 15,790 votes.
The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kayunga had earlier dismissed Kobusingye’s application for a recount of votes from selected polling stations, finding that the declaration forms on which she relied had not been certified by the Electoral Commission. The withdrawal brings to an end the legal challenge to the Kayunga Woman MP election results-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
