The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has welcomed a judgement by the High Court that nullified the election of Kawempe North Member of Parliament, Elias Nalukoola, and ordered fresh elections.
In a Judgement delivered Monday afternoon, the court found irregularities in the by-election that led to Nalukoola’s declaration as the winner, citing grounds sufficient to overturn the results.
The petition was filed by Faridah Nambi, the NRM-endorsed candidate who contested the seat and lost to Luyimbazi, a candidate from the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Nalukoola had reportedly garnered over 15,000 votes in the contested poll.
Reacting to the decision, NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Tanga Odoi expressed satisfaction with the court’s judgement, describing it as a step toward electoral justice.
“We are very happy with the decision. The people of Kawempe will get the justice they deserve,” Odoi told Nile Post in an interview.
“As NRM, we are going to make sure we win the next election. We know they [NUP] have a right to appeal, but we’ll wait to see what happens next,” he added.
Odoi was also critical of the conduct of the previous poll, saying, “You can't defraud over 15,000 people and say there was an election.”
The court's judgement paves the way for a fresh parliamentary election in Kawempe North, pending any appeal by the affected parties.