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🇺🇬 Uganda /Elections & Politics

Court allows minister's rival to withdraw election petition

From AllAfrica Uganda · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The High Court in Rukungiri has allowed Fred Turyamuhweza to withdraw his election petition against Minister Jim Muhwezi.
  • Turyamuhweza had challenged Muhwezi's election as Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County, alleging electoral offenses.
  • The court granted the withdrawal and awarded costs to the Electoral Commission, effectively ending the legal challenge to Muhwezi's victory.

Minister Jim Muhwezi has secured a significant legal victory after the High Court in Rukungiri permitted his rival, Fred Turyamuhweza, to withdraw an election petition that challenged Muhwezi's victory in the Rujumbura County parliamentary election.

The order, issued on July 7, 2026, by Justice Susan Kanyange, granted Turyamuhweza leave to withdraw Parliamentary Election Petition No. 005 of 2026. The petition had named Muhwezi and the Electoral Commission as respondents. The court also ruled that Turyamuhweza must cover the costs incurred by the Electoral Commission.

Muhwezi, who ran on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, was declared the winner of the January 15, 2026 election, securing 25,007 votes. His main opponent, Fred Turyamuhweza of the People's Front for Freedom (PFF), received 23,307 votes in a race that featured six candidates.

I thank the People of Rujumbura County for their trust and support for President Museveni, the NRM, and its programs. Today, the High Court at Rukungiri granted leave to withdraw the petition against me and the Electoral Commission.

— Jim MuhweziReacting to the court's decision to allow the withdrawal of the election petition.

Unhappy with the results, Turyamuhweza had petitioned the High Court, seeking to overturn the election. He alleged that Muhwezi committed electoral offenses during the campaign and argued that the Electoral Commission failed to adhere to electoral laws. Turyamuhweza sought an order to annul the election, call for a new poll, and be awarded costs.

Following the court's decision, Muhwezi expressed his gratitude to his supporters and legal team. "I thank the People of Rujumbura County for their trust and support for President Museveni, the NRM, and its programs," Muhwezi stated. "Today, the High Court at Rukungiri granted leave to withdraw the petition against me and the Electoral Commission. I thank my legal team for their continued trust."

The withdrawal of the petition concludes the legal challenge against Muhwezi's election, confirming his position as the Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County for the 2026-2031 term.

I thank my legal team for their continued trust.

— Jim MuhweziExpressing gratitude to his legal representatives after the court ruling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by AllAfrica Uganda in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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