Politics 22 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Court Dismisses Ex-Minister Ssempijja's Petition Challenging Kalungu East Election
The Masaka High Court has thrown out a petition filed by former Defence Minister Vincent Ssempijja, challenging the election results for Kalungu East. This marks the second time Ssempijja has failed to overturn an election loss in the constituency through legal means. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/second-blow-for-ex-minister-ssempijja-as-court-throws-out-kalungu-east-petition-5605366
Former Defence Minister Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja has faced another legal setback as the Masaka High Court dismissed his petition challenging the election of Mr. Yusuf Kiruruuta Nkeretaanyi as the Member of Parliament for Kalungu East.
Justice Joyce Kavuma ruled that the petition was filed outside the legally mandated 30-day period following the declaration of election results. Citing parliamentary election rules and acts, the court found no grounds to extend the statutory deadline, stating, “The petition was neither filed in time nor as per the existing laws, and court has no mandate to extend that period.”
The ruling followed a preliminary objection raised by Nkeretaanyi’s legal team, arguing that the petition was time-barred. The court directed that each party bear its own legal costs.
Nkeretaanyi, representing the National Unity Platform (NUP), secured victory in the January polls with 15,473 votes, while Ssempijja, running for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), came second with 13,219 votes.
This is not the first time Ssempijja has contested election results in Kalungu East. Following the January polls, he initially sought a vote recount, which was halted due to tampered ballot boxes, prompting him to file a full petition. Similarly, after the 2021 general election, his challenge to the election of NUP’s Francis Katabaazi was also disrupted during a recount due to concerns over broken ballot box seals.
This latest dismissal represents a significant legal blow for the former minister, who has previously held cabinet positions and served in various administrative roles within the Masaka region.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)