Hundreds of Election Petitions Head to Ugandan Courts

Months after Ugandans cast their ballots, the final word on numerous electoral contests may come from the courtroom rather than the ballot box. A total of 346 petitions have been filed across the country, challenging the results of the 2026 parliamentary and Local Council elections. This surge in legal challenges means that candidates are locked in fierce battles over declared outcomes, while voters await certainty about who their legitimate representatives will be.

The scale of this judicial undertaking is substantial, with the Judiciary assigning 100 judicial officers to these cases. Specifically, 48 High Court judges will preside over 157 petitions, and 52 Chief Magistrates will handle an additional 189 cases. These disputes are being heard across 30 High Court stations, the High Court Civil Division, and 26 Chief Magistrates’ courts.

Election petitions can be lodged when the electoral process is alleged to have failed to comply with the law. Grounds for challenge include non-compliance with electoral acts, whether such non-compliance affected the result, or if a candidate was unqualified. However, allegations alone are insufficient; petitioners must present evidence to substantiate their claims.

The Judiciary has prioritized these election petitions, placing them ahead of ordinary judicial assignments during the hearing period. Pre-trial proceedings are underway to streamline issues, with final decisions hinging on the specific evidence and legal arguments presented in each individual case. While some petitions will be dismissed, leaving declared results unchanged, others could lead to revised outcomes or necessitate fresh elections. The political contests that concluded at the polling stations may, therefore, continue in court for an extended period.

https://observer.ug/news/over-340-petitions-which-mps-will-survive