Tayari News
Asinansi Nyakato, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Hoima City, has said she is ready and determined to defend her victory in court. Nyakato, who was declared by the Electoral Commission as the duly elected Woman MP for Hoima City, has been dragged to court by Princess Dianah Rouse Jane Mugenyi, who contested for the same seat on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.
In the election, Nyakato, who crossed from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF), polled 17,142 votes, while Mugenyi garnered 15,197 votes to take second place. Bridget Kiiza of the National Unity Platform came third with 1,362 votes, while Sylvia Nalumaga, an independent candidate, trailed with 1,009 votes. The results were gazetted on February 6, 2026.
Not satisfied with the outcome, Mugenyi petitioned the High Court in Hoima to nullify Nyakato’s election, citing alleged electoral irregularities, bribery, and voter manipulation during the January 15, 2026, polls. Filed under the Parliamentary Elections Act, the petition—submitted through Mwesigwa Rukutana Advocates and led by Brian Rubaihayo—also seeks an order compelling the Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election for the Hoima City Woman Representative seat.
The petition alleges widespread irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws. At Sir Tito Winyi Stadium polling station, only 194 ballot papers were reportedly issued for 525 registered voters. At St. Mary’s Primary School, 341 people allegedly voted, but only 173 ballot papers were counted. At Hoima Boma polling station, only 118 ballot papers were issued despite 471 registered voters, allegedly disenfranchising 353 voters.
Mugenyi also cites inconsistencies in declaration forms. At the Hoima Rotary polling station, the results form was unsigned, while at Kitara Secondary School Lower, the form reportedly lacked details on valid, invalid, and rejected votes. She further claims that the results were declared based on questionable entries, with allegations of ballot stuffing.
At Mparo Gasani polling station, 350 ballot papers were counted despite only 146 voters casting ballots. At Kasasa Catholic Church polling station, the number of votes allegedly exceeded the number of voters. The petitioner also accuses Nyakato and her agents of voter bribery. She alleges that on January 6, 2026, Nyakato gave 500,000 shillings to elderly voters in Ruyanja Cell, Kibingo Ward.
On January 14, her agent is said to have distributed cash at Budaka Primary School and provided money, alcohol, and kombucha drinks to voters at Kikwatamigo Trading Centre. Mugenyi further claims that Nyakato illegally transferred voters from Kikuube District to Hoima City using their national identity details. According to the petition, voters were misled into believing their IDs were required for development documentation, only to be registered at polling stations in Hoima City, including Busiisi Primary School, Hoima Library, and Kihomboza.
She argues that these actions amounted to illegal procurement of voters and subjugation of the electorate, in violation of electoral laws. According to Mugenyi, the alleged irregularities—including voter bribery, ballot stuffing, and voter manipulation—significantly affected the results. With a margin of just 1,945 votes, she contends that the outcome could have been overturned. Mugenyi is therefore seeking a court declaration that the election was conducted in violation of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the nullification of Nyakato’s victory, and an order for a fresh election.
She has hired three law firms—Mwesigwa Rukutana Advocates, Factum Associated Advocates, and Tenax Advocates—to represent her. Since the filing of the petition, Nyakato had remained silent. However, speaking to Uganda Radio Network (URN), Nyakato said she has now filed her defence and is determined to defend her victory, insisting that she genuinely won the election. Nyakato said she has all the evidence to justify her win in the hotly contested race and has hired competent and qualified lawyers to represent her. She, however, declined to reveal details of her legal team. The case is yet to be allocated to a judge.
-URN-