The Minister for Kampala, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, has advised the National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, to seek forgiveness through her lawyers or withdraw the election petition challenging her victory in the Kampala Central parliamentary race.
Kabanda made the remarks after court proceedings in the election petition continued with testimony from witnesses presenting allegations of electoral irregularities during the January 15, 2026, elections.
The petition, filed by Rubongoya, challenges Kabanda’s victory in the Kampala Central parliamentary election.
The proceedings are being presided over by Justice Flavia Nabakooza, with Rubongoya’s legal team led by Counsel Jude Byamukama, while Kabanda is represented by a team led by Ambrose Tebyasa.
During the hearing, the second witness, Macson Tusingwire, a polling agent, told court that he abandoned his assigned polling station following alleged violence.
Tusingwire claimed that individuals he described as goons had identified him and threatened to harm him, forcing him to leave his post and miss his supervisory responsibilities on polling day. He also alleged that some individuals voted more than once.
The third witness, Emmanuel Kasule, presented similar allegations of electoral irregularities, claiming that some individuals demanded multiple ballot papers.
Kasule identified a man he referred to as Kato, whom he alleged received more than one ballot paper and cast multiple votes.
He further told court that he had been coerced into signing a declaration form indicating that Rubongoya had received 19 votes.
The fourth witness, Rajab Walyanda, also testified about alleged disruptions during the electoral process. He accused a man identified as Tonny Muyaye of snatching and smashing his phone while he was recording incidents at a polling station on January 15, 2026.
However, Kabanda dismissed the witnesses’ accounts as a hoax, alleging that they did not reside in Kampala and had been brought in from outside the constituency and coached to testify against her.
The minister’s claims remain allegations, while the witnesses’ accounts are subject to judicial scrutiny as the court considers the evidence presented by both parties.
The court is expected to determine the merits of the allegations raised in the petition and whether they provide sufficient grounds to affect the declared election results.
By Edith Namwanje
27th Oct 2026
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