MASAKA — The dispute over the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament seat has moved to the High Court, where National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Rose Nalubowa is challenging the election of State Minister Justine Nameere.
The case came before Justice Bernard Namanya on Monday for preliminary proceedings, with lawyers for the parties addressing the court on evidence filed in the petition.
Nalubowa’s lawyer, Alexander Lule, told court that the respondents had been served with the petitioner’s evidence.
Nameere’s lead counsel, Anthony Bazira, asked the court to allow the respondents to file a rejoinder before the case proceeds to the next stage.
The petition stems from a recount that altered the initial outcome of the January 15 election.
The Electoral Commission initially declared Nalubowa the winner with 25,443 votes, while Nameere received 20,324 votes.
Nameere subsequently challenged the result, prompting a recount supervised by Masaka Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe.
The recount reversed the outcome, giving Nameere 25,502 votes and Nalubowa 23,176 votes, making Nameere the declared winner.
Nalubowa has challenged the recount, alleging that the exercise was not properly conducted and that the resulting figures did not reflect the will of voters.
Nameere, however, has asked the High Court to dismiss the petition with costs, arguing that it is defective, incompetent and does not establish a proper cause of action.
The Electoral Commission and the Masaka City Returning Officer are also respondents in the case.
Monday’s proceedings were limited to preliminary matters and did not address the substantive allegations concerning the recount.
The court is expected to issue further directions before the petition proceeds to substantive hearing.
The case is among election petitions arising from the 2026 general elections currently before courts across Uganda.
