Politics 23 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Budaka Election Petition Withdrawn by Candidate, Costs to be Determined
Former Budaka County parliamentary candidate Michael Kamba Musangala has been granted leave by the High Court in Mbale to withdraw his election petition. The respondents, including three elected MPs and the Electoral Commission, are seeking Shs180 million in costs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/court-allows-withdrawal-of-budaka-parliamentary-election-petition-5605568
The High Court in Mbale has permitted Michael Kamba Musangala, who ran as an independent candidate for Budaka County, to withdraw his election petition. The petition had challenged the January 15 parliamentary election results for Budaka County, Iki-Iki County, and the Budaka District Woman MP seat, also naming the Electoral Commission as a respondent.
Musangala alleged that electoral irregularities affected the outcome. However, his lawyer informed Justice Issa Sserunkuma that the petitioner had lost interest in continuing the case. The court granted the withdrawal after the parties reached a consensus, with the matter of costs to be decided by the court.
The respondents, including Moses Goire (Budaka County MP), Abdu Swaibu Kampanya (Iki-Iki County MP), and Noel Kataike Babula (Budaka District Woman MP), agreed to the withdrawal. They stated that the petition was filed late and lacked substantial grounds for court determination. Musangala, who garnered 173 votes compared to Goire’s 28,681, expressed regret over the withdrawal but claimed it was done in good faith for the benefit of the Bugwere region. He indicated he would cover the costs but might appeal if the amount, estimated at Shs180 million by the respondents, is deemed too high.
Justice Sserunkuma commended Musangala for ending the legal proceedings and encouraged the elected MPs to collaborate for Budaka’s development.