By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Following the publication of discrepancies in the Kawempe North by-election gazetted results, the Electoral Commission has been tasked to explain the same.
On Monday, the Uganda Publishing and Printing Corporation (UPPC) published in the Uganda Gazette the Kawempe North by-election MP elect Hon. Elias Nalukoola however, there were discrepancies in the gazzeted results contrary to the results declared by the EC, raising questions about the competency of the electoral commission in managing elections.
According to the Gazette, Nalukoola won with 17,939 votes, followed by Faridah Nambi with 9,058 votes. These figures contradict the official declaration forms, which recorded Nalukoola’s victory with 17,764 votes, while Namabi (NRM) secured 8,593 votes. Additionally, the results of other candidates, including Sadat Mukiibi, Alex Lusswa Luwemba, and Hanifah Karadi, were reportedly altered in the Gazette, sparking further scrutiny.
The inaccuracies have caused debates on the competency of the Electoral Commission on managing elections in Uganda besides the uncontrollable violence during and in the post by-election.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Democratic Party Ag. Spokesperson and Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) President, Ismail Kiirya criticized EC over mistrusts and tasked the commission’s chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama to explain the difference in the results.
“We are saddened by the extra votes exhibited in the Uganda Gazette which differs from the Declaration forms. We are calling upon the EC to come out and tell us where the extra figures are coming from?” Kiirya said.
According to Kiirya, citizens are already biased about EC’s competency, arguing that the commission cannot manage the national elections ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“It’s absurd that the Electoral commission can has shown it’s incompetence earlier on before even the General elections,” he said. “This is enough evidence for Ugandans not to trust the Electoral commission in the general elections.”
Publishing of the Kawempe North by-election results in the Uganda Gazette, paves the way for the swearing-in of Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola as the Kawempe North MP-elect. However, this process remains uncertain as election experts raise concerns over discrepancies in the gazetted results.
The DP alleges that the inaccuracies in the Kawempe North by-election results are due to a connivence between NRM and the Electoral commission to give more grounds to the NRM candidate to go in court. They warned against possible electoral violence in 2026, noting that the EC will be held accountable to whatever happens in the election.
Kiirya argues that these inconsistencies could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, raising questions about the accuracy of the published results and the legitimacy of the upcoming swearing-in ceremony.
On Monday, the NRM candidate Faridah Nambi through her lawyers of Atwijukire Dennis Advocates petitioned the Electoral Commission for a recount but the NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya said their party remains confident of victory.
