The High Court in Kampala has begun hearing cross-examinations in the contested Kawempe North by-election case, with Faridah Nambi Kigongo—the petitioner herself—taking the witness stand first on Tuesday morning.
Nambi, who is challenging the victory of MP Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, became the opening witness among the 10 selected by the court for cross-examination.
But her testimony was immediately interrupted after the court stood over the session briefly to fetch a calculator to help tally figures relating to untallied votes.
The judge asked for the calculator after questions arose over discrepancies in vote totals from several polling stations—numbers central to Nambi’s claim that the final result was compromised.
The court, presided over by Justice Bernard Namanya, sat in near silence as Nambi defended her claims that the March 13 vote was marred by bribery and voter manipulation.
Nalukoola, who represents the National Unity Platform (NUP), won the race with 17,939 votes, according to the Electoral Commission. Nambi, the ruling NRM candidate, came second.
Nambi's petition accuses Nalukoola and his agents of handing out money—ranging between Shs5,000 and Shs10,000—to influence voters at various polling stations.
Under oath, she reiterated that her petition is supported by multiple sworn affidavits from voters and polling agents who allegedly witnessed or participated in the bribery.
But during Tuesday's grilling, defence team is expected to challenge the credibility of these affidavits, and possibly question whether the witnesses had direct knowledge or were influenced by hearsay.
Her cross-examination follows a Monday ruling by Justice Namanya that dismissed Nalukoola’s application to appeal a decision limiting him to questioning only 10 of the 34 witnesses presented by Nambi.
The judge cited Section 63 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which requires resolution of election petitions within 30 days, adding that interlocutory appeals would delay justice.
“Only final decisions of an election petition can be appealed,” he ruled.
Nambi will be allowed to cross-examine Nalukoola’s witnesses on Thursday, May 15, as the case races toward conclusion.
The outcome of the petition could overturn the results of one of Kampala’s most fiercely contested parliamentary races, with implications not only for Kawempe North but also for the wider balance between the ruling NRM and the opposition NUP in the capital.