The High Court has dismissed Moses Kataabu’s challenge to Salim Saad Uhuru’s Kampala Central mayoral victory over late filing, leaving the NRM candidate’s election intact as the NUP challenger plans an appeal.
The High Court in Kampala has dismissed a petition by National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Moses Kataabu challenging the election of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Salim Saad Uhuru as Kampala Central Division mayor, ruling that the case was filed outside the statutory timeframe.
The decision, delivered by Justice Flavia Nabakooza, leaves Uhuru’s January 2026 electoral victory intact, although Kataabu has indicated that he intends to appeal, arguing that he was not given an opportunity to present his evidence.
Uhuru was declared the winner of the January 27 mayoral election with 32,769 votes against Kataabu’s 9,090. Other candidates collectively received about 2,000 votes, giving Uhuru a margin of nearly 24,000 votes over his closest challenger.
Kataabu filed the petition challenging the results, raising allegations of electoral irregularities, including violence. The Electoral Commission was also named in the proceedings before the High Court’s Civil Division in Kampala.
According to the reported ruling, the court dismissed the petition because it had been lodged after the legally prescribed period had expired.
The judge did not order either party to pay costs and advised Kataabu to pursue an appeal if he was dissatisfied with the decision.
Kataabu maintains that his challenge should have been considered on its merits, arguing that he possesses evidence to support his allegations against the incumbent mayor.
Speaking after the ruling, Kataabu and his lawyers, led by Kenneth Paul Kakande, said they would appeal, arguing that they had not been given an opportunity to explain their case and present evidence they believe demonstrates that the election was rigged.
However, the dismissal does not establish whether the allegations of electoral malpractice were true or false. The reported decision was based on the timing of the petition rather than a determination of the merits of the allegations.
Uhuru, meanwhile, celebrated the outcome with his supporters, maintaining his position as the elected mayor of Kampala Central.
The ruling follows an earlier public exchange between the two candidates over the credibility of the election results.
In September, Uhuru challenged Kataabu to identify even one polling station where he had won, saying he was prepared to relinquish the mayoral seat if his rival could demonstrate such a result.
“From the 20 parishes, let him show me just one that he won,” Uhuru said, insisting that he had won across Kampala Central’s villages and possessed certified declaration of results forms to support his victory.
Uhuru also rejected allegations that he had engaged in election-related violence, saying he had been at his tally centre coordinating the collection and verification of results. He described the petition as a “waste of time and damaging to his reputation.”
The dismissal is a procedural setback for Kataabu, whose attempt to overturn the mayoral result has been rejected by the High Court. Any further challenge will depend on the applicable appeal process and the issues that can properly be raised before the appellate court.
For now, Uhuru retains the Kampala Central mayoral seat, having secured a substantial lead over his NUP challenger in the January election.