Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato has taken the witness stand to defend her election victory as lawyers for her challenger, Princess Diana Mugenyi, began cross-examining her at the High Court in Hoima on Thursday. Nyakato, who belongs to the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), is defending her January 15, 2026 election victory against a petition filed by Mugenyi, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate.
Nyakato won the election with 17,142 votes against Mugenyi’s 15,197, giving her a margin of 1,945 votes. Mugenyi, through her lawyers led by Brian Rubaihayo of Mwesigwa Rukutana Advocates, wants the High Court to nullify Nyakato’s election and order a fresh poll. Her petition challenges the conduct and results of the election, citing alleged voter bribery, ballot stuffing, manipulation of voters and non-compliance with electoral laws.
Mugenyi’s lawyers have also pointed to alleged discrepancies between the number of registered voters, ballot papers issued, voters who cast ballots and votes recorded at several polling stations. At Sir Tito Winyi Stadium polling station, for instance, Mugenyi alleges that 194 ballot papers were issued despite 525 registered voters being on the voters’ roll.
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 only 118 ballot papers were issued to a polling station with 471 registered voters. Her petition also raises questions about declaration of results forms. She cites an unsigned declaration form from Hoima Rotary polling station and alleges that details of valid, invalid and rejected votes were missing from the results declaration form at Kitara Secondary School Lower polling station.
Mugenyi further alleges that ballot stuffing occurred at several polling stations. At Mparo Gasani polling station, she claims 350 ballot papers were counted despite only 146 voters having cast their ballots. She 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 further accuses Nyakato and some of her agents of bribing voters. Mugenyi alleges that Nyakato gave Shs500,000 to elderly voters in Ruyanja Cell, Kibingo Ward, on January 6, 2026. She also alleges that one of Nyakato’s agents distributed money at Budaka Primary School on January 14 and provided voters with money and alcohol at Kikwatamigo Trading Centre.
Mugenyi further alleges that some voters were moved from neighbouring Kikuube District to Hoima City after their national identification details were allegedly obtained under the guise of collecting information for development-related activities. According to the petition, some of these voters were subsequently registered at polling stations including Busiisi Primary School, Hoima Library and Kihomboza.
Mugenyi argues that the alleged irregularities substantially affected the election outcome, particularly given the 1,945-vote margin separating the two candidates. Nyakato told Uganda Radio Network before Thursday’s proceedings that she was prepared to face cross-examination and defend her victory. The cross-examination follows testimony by Mugenyi and her witnesses, who were questioned by Nyakato’s lawyers led by Medard Lubega Sseggona last week.
The hearing was adjourned on October 2 after Mugenyi’s lawyers asked for more time, saying they were fatigued and exhausted. The petition is being heard by Justice Charles Kasibayo at the High Court in Hoima-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
