KAMPALA, Uganda — Parliament’s powerful watchdog, the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), has taken the Electoral Commission (EC) to task over its controversial handling of the Kawempe North by-election—now annulled following a damning High Court ruling.
On Monday, Justice Bernard Namanya ordered a fresh election in the constituency after finding that over 15,000 voters, including petitioner Faridah Nambi, had been disenfranchised.
The ruling also cited widespread electoral violence, bribery, and illegal campaigning—serious violations that COSASE members say the EC failed to address or appeal.
“Are you proud of what happened in Kawempe North?” asked COSASE chairperson Medard Sseggona, in a heated exchange. “The country must go through another costly election, and more violence. Are you really in charge?”
Sseggona’s remarks reflected broader concerns among MPs who feel the EC has lost grip on its constitutional duty to conduct free and fair elections.
EC Officials Blame Security Forces
In defense, acting EC Secretary Richard Kamugisha Baabo said the violence erupted after security forces intervened at polling stations. According to Baabo, EC staff were filling declaration forms when chaos broke out.
“Stones started flying. Our officials had to run for their lives. Should they have stayed and been stoned?” he told the committee.
But MPs weren’t buying it.
They sharply criticized the Commission’s swift decision not to appeal the court ruling, questioning whether any serious internal review had even taken place.
“Soon after the judgment, the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, said he would not appeal,” noted Mukono North MP Abdallah Kiwanuka. “Did the Commission even study the ruling?”
The Court’s Verdict
The case was filed by Faridah Nambi in the High Court’s Civil Division. She accused Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, a National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, of voter bribery, obstructing electoral officials, and campaigning on polling day—blatant breaches of EC guidelines.
Although Nalukoola had been declared winner, the High Court found his victory tainted by illegal practices and voter suppression.
The fallout from the nullification has angered not only lawmakers but also supporters of the ruling and opposition parties alike, raising urgent questions about the EC’s credibility.
Calls for Reform and Transparency
With a fresh by-election now inevitable, COSASE has demanded accountability from the Commission. MPs want clear measures in place to prevent another fiasco, particularly in Kampala’s high-stakes urban constituencies.
“This cannot become the norm,” warned Sseggona. “We cannot keep sending Ugandans back to the polls under broken systems. The EC must show us a roadmap for electoral integrity.”
As public trust in Uganda’s electoral process continues to erode, this episode places the Electoral Commission squarely in the spotlight. Whether it can regain control and restore confidence remains to be seen—but Parliament is watching closely.
