By KT Reporter
George William Mawumbe, a key witness for Nambi Faridah Kigongo—the runner-up in the March 2025 Kawempe North by-election—testified before the High Court Civil Division and was cross-examined on Wednesday over allegations of bribery against the declared winner, Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi.
The session, presided over by Civil Division Judge Bernard Namanya, extended late into the evening, with cross-examination going past 7:00 PM. This case arises from a petition filed by Nambi, who is challenging Nalukoola’s victory, alleging that he committed electoral offenses, including bribery of voters.
Court heard that while several witnesses initially claimed to have been bribed either directly by Nalukoola or through his agents, some of them were later approached by Nalukoola’s lawyers and persuaded to reverse their statements. On Wednesday, the court focused on cross-examining witnesses to establish the truth about what transpired.
During questioning by Nalukoola’s lawyer, Alex Luganda, Mawumbe, who said he works as a painter and a potter on construction sites, faced tough interrogation over his claims. He had earlier told the court that he was given Shs5,000 by Ben Ntale, an alleged agent of Nalukoola, who he said was “reportedly seen giving money to many youth and with a gang asking people to vote for Nalukoola.” When asked where the money went and whether it was available as evidence, Mawumbe stated, “I handed it over to my lawyers.”
Luganda challenged this, questioning how someone of Mawumbe’s means could give up the money: “You Mawumbe, You,” Luganda said, casting doubt on his claim. Mawumbe responded that he earns “at times 15k for doing the pottery work and around 35,000 per day for painting houses.”
Despite the pressure, Mawumbe insisted that he had been coerced and intimidated into signing documents under duress. He alleged: “I was kidnapped by Nalukoola’s agents led by a one Ben Ntale and taken to offices near Buganda Road Court in a boardroom, where I was forced to sign the documents.”
The court also scrutinized inconsistencies in Mawumbe’s affidavit and his torn voter slip. While his affidavit stated he voted from Clinton Junior School, the voter slip indicated Ssemambo Grounds. He defended himself by saying, “The polling station shifted to Clinton School, and not by me but by the Electoral Commission. Even my national identification card shows that I vote from that same place.”
He maintained that the second affidavit had been signed under duress and did not reflect his true position. When asked whether he knew any other candidates in the race, Mawumbe replied that he didn’t know others “except the candidate he had at his heart.” Luganda attempted to press further, asking him who that was, but Nambi’s lead counsel Kalule objected, arguing that the question violated the secrecy of the ballot. The judge upheld the objection.
Luganda went on to ask if Mawumbe knew Muhammad Nsereko and Alex (Muhammad) Wasswa Luwemba, also candidates in the race. Mawumbe said he is not a politician but “a voter whose role on election day was just to vote a candidate of his choice.”
Despite repeated questioning, Mawumbe remained firm, stating that he was forced to sign the documents withdrawing his earlier support for Nambi’s petition. Luganda accused him of lying, referring to him as “a traitor,” and claimed to possess CCTV footage showing Mawumbe entering the boardroom freely, without signs of coercion.
But Mawumbe held his ground: “The lawyer knew about the coercion and intimidation he subjected me to in the boardroom so as to backtrack on my initial affidavit supporting Nambi’s petition.” The hearing continues today, Thursday, with cross-examination of other witnesses as the court examines both evidence and testimony to determine the validity of Nambi’s petition.
On March 13, 2025, the Electoral Commission declared Nalukoola, the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, the winner of the Kawempe North by-election with 17,939 votes. His closest challenger, NRM’s Nambi Faridah Kigongo, garnered 9,058 votes. Dissatisfied, Nambi petitioned the High Court seeking a fresh by-election.
She alleged the process was marred by electoral malpractices, including bribery, which she said affected the outcome. According to the petition, Nalukoola bribed voters with cash, including Shs10,000 to Kyemba Muwanguzi Nathan and Shs5,000 each to Mawumbe George William and Wamukubira Geoffrey, among others.
The Electoral Commission, represented by litigation counsel Eric Sabiiti, has denied the allegations and maintains that the election was conducted in line with the Constitution and electoral laws-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
