Politics 30 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Court Ousts Jinja Deputy Mayor, Declares NUP Candidate Winner
A court has nullified the election of Jinja City Deputy Mayor Mariam Nalumansi, declaring Prossy Happy Magoba of the National Unity Platform (NUP) the rightful winner of the Jinja South West council seat. The ruling stemmed from an election petition alleging forged results. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/court-declares-nup-candidate-winner-of-jinja-south-west-council-seat-5615068
Jinja City Deputy Mayor Mariam Nalumansi has lost her position as the Jinja South West councilor following a court decision. The Jinja Magistrate’s Court ruled in favor of NUP’s Prossy Happy Magoba, who had filed a petition challenging the January election results.
Magoba claimed she secured 1,694 votes compared to Nalumansi’s 1,515. Her petition alleged that Nalumansi was declared the winner after submitting forged declaration of results forms to the Electoral Commission (EC).
According to Magoba, she retained her original declaration forms at the tally center due to suspicions about the results submitted by her opponent. “I ensured that I kept my original declaration forms after realising that my opponent was presenting forged results to the EC. I used them in court,” Magoba stated.
During the court proceedings, Chief Magistrate Justine Ola reportedly asked Nalumansi to produce the original declaration forms, but she failed to do so. The EC subsequently presented its own original forms, which Magoba confirmed matched hers.
In her judgment, Chief Magistrate Ola declared Magoba the winner and ordered her to be sworn in as the substantive councilor for Jinja South West. “Since you do not have the original forms, I declare the petitioner the winner and direct that she be sworn in as the substantive Jinja South West councillor,” the magistrate ruled.
Nalumansi’s lawyer, Robert Esarait, reportedly withdrew from the case mid-proceedings, which Magoba’s lawyer, Abed Nasser Mudiobole, attributed to the discovery of discrepancies in his client’s presented forms. Mudiobole suggested the withdrawal was to protect Esarait’s practicing certificate.
While Nalumansi’s legal team’s actions raised questions, the court’s decision effectively overturned her election and validated Magoba’s victory. Magoba’s legal team also sought costs against Nalumansi. Nalumansi, however, appealed for leniency, noting she had not received any allowances since taking office.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)