The Electoral Commission (EC) has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss with costs a presidential election petition filed by former candidate Robert Kasibante.
The Commission, chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, maintains that the January 15, 2026 presidential election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Constitution and electoral laws, and that President Yoweri Museveni was validly elected.
In its response, supported by an affidavit sworn by Justice Byabakama, the EC rejects Kasibante’s allegations of electoral malpractice, violence, voter bribery, lack of independence, misuse of state resources, and procedural irregularities.
The Commission describes the claims as vague, speculative, and unsupported by credible evidence capable of meeting the constitutional threshold required to annul a presidential election.
According to official results declared by the EC on January 17, 2026, President Museveni garnered 7,946,772 votes, defeating opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who received 2,741,238 votes.
Other candidates included Nathan Nandala Mafabi (209,039 votes), Gen. Gregory Mugisha Muntu (59,276), Frank Buura (45,959), Mubarak Munyagwa (31,666), and Robert Kasibante, who obtained 33,440 votes.
Kasibante’s petition alleges widespread irregularities, including electoral malpractice, violence, voter bribery, misuse of state resources, improperly gazetted polling stations, lack of transparency in vote counting, and partisan conduct by state security agencies.
He is seeking the annulment of Museveni’s election, cancellation of the declared results, fresh elections, and a comprehensive audit of election materials.
Under Uganda’s Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act, any presidential candidate may challenge election results in the Supreme Court within 10 days of the declaration of results.
While Kasibante filed his petition within the stipulated timeframe, observers note that historically, such petitions typically filed by runners-up, have failed due to insufficient evidence to meet the substantiality test.
The EC insists that even if any irregularities occurred, they did not substantially affect the outcome of the election.
The Supreme Court is expected to begin hearing related applications starting Wednesday.
Legal observers say the case will test both existing legal precedents on presidential election petitions and the limits of the substantiality test, given that the petitioner was neither the runner-up nor a major vote contender.
By Francis Jjunju
27th Jan 2026
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