The High Court in Iganga has overturned the election of Stella Maris Nankwanga as the Woman Member of Parliament for Bugweri District, handing the seat to her challenger, Aminah Mutesi Nalugoda.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, November 13, Justice Simon Peter Kinobe found that Nankwanga did not meet the legal requirements to stand for Parliament. The court determined that she had failed to present the necessary academic credentials at the time she was nominated as a candidate.
A Seat Decided on Qualifications
The judgment turns on a fundamental question of eligibility. Under Uganda's electoral rules, candidates for Parliament must demonstrate the minimum academic qualifications before their nomination is accepted. Justice Kinobe concluded that Nankwanga had not satisfied this requirement, which rendered her candidacy invalid.
With the ruling, the court has not ordered a fresh vote but has instead declared Nalugoda, the petitioner, as the legitimately elected representative for the district's women constituents.
What the Decision Means
The outcome reshapes the political landscape in Bugweri District, where residents had already gone to the polls believing Nankwanga was their representative. The declaration of Nalugoda as MP means the constituency now has a new voice in Parliament.
The case also underscores the strict scrutiny applied to candidate eligibility in Uganda. Courts have increasingly been asked to weigh in on whether nominated candidates met the legal threshold, and Friday's ruling adds to a growing body of decisions where elections have been annulled on qualification grounds.
- Nankwanga's election as Bugweri District Woman MP has been nullified.
- Justice Simon Peter Kinobe ruled she lacked the required academic credentials at nomination.
- Aminah Mutesi Nalugoda has been declared the duly elected MP.
- The ruling was delivered on Friday, November 13, at the High Court in Iganga.
Reactions and Next Steps
Details on whether Nankwanga intends to appeal the decision were not immediately clear. Legal analysts note that any challenge would need to be lodged with the Court of Appeal within the stipulated timeframe.
For Nalugoda, the ruling represents a significant legal victory and clears the path for her to take up the seat. Supporters gathered outside the Iganga court welcomed the judgment, while the incumbent's camp is expected to weigh its options in the coming days.
The decision serves as a reminder that electoral processes are bound by rules that apply equally to all contenders, and that courts remain a key avenue for resolving disputes over who is legitimately entitled to represent the people.
