The High Court in Masaka will deliver its ruling on December 18 in Joanita Nalule’s petition challenging Joan Namutaawe’s election as Masaka District Woman MP over alleged voter bribery, defamatory statements and missing polling station results.
The High Court in Masaka has set December 18, 2026, to deliver its ruling in an election petition filed by National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Joanita Nalule challenging the victory of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Joan Namutaawe in the Masaka District Woman MP race.
The date was set after the conclusion of the hearing before Justice Rossette Kania, with the court expected to determine whether the grounds raised by Nalule warrant any legal intervention in the election outcome.
Nalule is challenging Namutaawe’s victory, alleging voter bribery, defamatory statements during the campaigns and irregularities involving the provision of election results from two polling stations.
The petitioner argues that the alleged conduct compromised the fairness of the election and contributed to her defeat.
During the proceedings, Nalule’s lawyers, led by Kalule Ahmed Mukasa, asked the court to play video footage allegedly containing statements Namutaawe made against her during the campaign period.
However, the court rejected the application to play the footage, reportedly citing the failure to produce the phone allegedly used to record it, despite the evidence having been presented on a flash drive.
The decision was a key development in the proceedings as the court considered the evidence and arguments presented by both sides.
Nalule also accused the Electoral Commission of failing to provide election results from two polling stations, arguing that the alleged omissions required judicial scrutiny.
Through her legal team, she asked the court to determine whether the alleged irregularities and other complaints constituted grounds for challenging Namutaawe’s election.
The allegations remain claims by the petitioner and have not been established as findings of the court.
Namutaawe, who attended the proceedings alongside her lawyer, Sam Ssekyewa, and other NUP leaders, denied the accusations, maintaining that the petition was unfounded.
Her legal team challenged the basis of the case and argued that Nalule was using the court process to prolong a dispute over an election she had lost.
The respondent’s side urged the court to consider the evidence presented before making its determination, maintaining that the alleged offences had not been committed.
The December 18 ruling is expected to determine the outcome of Nalule’s challenge to Namutaawe’s election victory.
Until then, the allegations against the respondent and her denials remain competing positions before the court.