Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo has testified in a petition challenging Bonny Kabugo’s election as Lubaga III councillor, as the petitioner concludes presenting evidence and the respondents prepare their defence.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo has testified in an election petition challenging the victory of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Bonny Kabugo in the Lubaga III councillor race, with the case set to resume on October 19, 2026.
Balimwezo appeared before Justice Joseph Kwesiga at the Mwanga II Court in Mengo, where he took an oath on the Holy Bible before being cross-examined by Kabugo’s lawyer.
During his testimony, Balimwezo told the court that he and petitioner Julius Katongole had shared election agents at some polling stations during the recently concluded elections.
He said the number of voters recorded on the registers at the polling stations where they shared agents was consistent, adding that he did not expect the votes credited to Kabugo to exceed the number of registered voters at those stations.
Balimwezo also told the court that the declaration of results forms presented during the election process had been certified by the Electoral Commission.
His testimony forms part of the evidence the court will consider in determining Katongole’s challenge to Kabugo’s election.
Katongole’s lawyer, Jude Mbabaali, informed the court that the petitioner had concluded presenting his three witnesses: Katongole, Balimwezo and Olivia Kyompiire, who were listed in the court documents.
This paved the way for Kabugo and the other respondents to begin presenting their defence.
However, the respondents’ lawyer, Martin Ainebyona, informed the court that one of their listed witnesses, Lubaga NRM chairperson Ivan Kamuntu Majembere, had been dropped after his affidavit was withdrawn because he was reportedly ill and unable to attend court.
Ainebyona had been ready to present Kabugo for cross-examination when proceedings were interrupted after Mbabaali requested an adjournment, citing a personal matter that had left him unable to continue with the hearing.
Electoral Commission lawyer Ashraf Hakim also sought an adjournment, explaining that his intended witness, Abubaker Kayondo, was appearing before a court in Masaka in connection with similar election petition cases.
Justice Kwesiga adjourned the matter to October 19, 2026, when the parties are expected to return to court to continue presenting their evidence. The judge indicated that he wanted the parties to conclude their cases so the court could move towards delivering its decision.
Katongole contested the Lubaga III councillor seat, which covers areas including Najjanankumbi, Nateete and Lubaga. He is challenging Kabugo’s victory and is asking the court to order a recount or, alternatively, declare him the winner if the evidence supports his claim.
In his petition, Katongole alleges that some declaration of results forms credited Kabugo with more votes than the number of voters present at the respective polling stations.
He further claims that his analysis of the election results showed he was leading Kabugo by more than 9,000 votes.
Katongole wants the court to investigate the alleged discrepancies and determine whether the declared results accurately reflect the votes cast during the election.
Kabugo and the Electoral Commission are expected to respond to the allegations as the hearing continues. The claims remain unproven, and the court has yet to determine the petition.