The opposition Democratic Party (DP) has criticized the Judiciary over delays in resolving election petitions, saying the slow pace of handling the cases undermines justice, accountability and effective leadership.
A recent survey by the Judicial Training Institute indicates that 118 electoral petitions have so far been filed before the High Court. Of these, 107 are related to parliamentary elections, while 11 concern Local Government elections.
DP Deputy National Legal Advisor Kenneth Nsubuga said the delays in hearing and determining the petitions have created uncertainty among voters and elected leaders, affecting service delivery in areas where disputes remain unresolved.
Nsubuga explained that prolonged election disputes leave leaders operating under uncertainty and limit their ability to fully carry out their responsibilities.
He has called on the Judiciary to fast-track the hearing and determination of pending petitions in order to restore public confidence in the electoral and justice systems.
According to Nsubuga, timely delivery of justice is essential for strengthening democracy and ensuring that the will of voters is respected.
He also urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to consider conducting Local Council I elections alongside the national elections in future.
Nsubuga further proposed the establishment of village-level tribunals to handle LC election petitions, arguing that this would reduce the backlog of cases before courts of law and ensure faster resolution of local electoral disputes.
By Charles Katabalwa
4th Aug 2026
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