118 Election Petitions Filed as Judges Scrutinize Electoral Commission

The Ugandan Judiciary anticipates a demanding period of litigation with 118 election petitions lodged before the High Court after the January 2026 General Election. The majority of these cases, 107 in total, challenge parliamentary election results, while 11 pertain to local council elections.

This marks an increase in parliamentary election petitions compared to the previous electoral cycle. The Court of Appeal, as the final arbiter for these disputes, is preparing for a potential influx of appeals from dissatisfied candidates. Chief Justice Flavian Zeija has cautioned appellate judges to be ready for numerous cases, noting that legal provisions allowing candidates to remain in office pending appeals might encourage even those who have lost to pursue further legal action.

During a training session for Court of Appeal justices, senior judicial officers raised critical questions directed at Electoral Commission (EC) officials. Concerns were voiced about the repeated failures of biometric voter verification kits and other electoral irregularities, which judges argue have eroded public trust. Justice Oscar Kihika questioned the EC’s ability to learn from past mistakes and improve its processes, while also criticizing the limited involvement of candidates’ agents in vote tallying.

Highlighting specific instances, Justice Kihika described tallying processes as “shameful” and prone to manipulation, citing an example from the Kayunga District Woman MP by-election. Justice Musa Ssekaana proposed reforms, such as using a single original declaration form to mitigate discrepancies that often lead to disputes. The EC officials present committed to addressing the concerns raised.

The Judiciary spokesperson, Mr. James Ereemye, stated that the petitions would begin to be heard “Soon.”