The battle for Kawempe North’s parliamentary seat is far from over. Faridah Nambi Kigongo, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate who lost the hotly contested February by-election, will finally have her day in court as the High Court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for April 30, 2025.
The hearing, set to start at 9:00 a.m., will allow the parties to agree on the main issues before the full trial. According to a court notice signed by Registrar Simon Kintu Zirintusa, the session will proceed even if either side or their lawyers fail to show up.
For Nambi, the court date represents a critical step in a fight she says is about more than just personal ambition it’s about ensuring fairness for the people of Kawempe North.
In her petition, Nambi claims the by-election was marred by serious irregularities. She accuses Elias Nalukoola of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), who was declared the winner, of benefiting from widespread electoral malpractice. She points to incidents of illegal campaigning on voting day, bribery, and the obstruction of voters and election officials activities she says were spearheaded by Nalukoola’s campaign team, including well-known figures like musician-turned-MP Hillary Kiyaga (popularly known as Dr. Hilderman), singer Mathias Walukagga, and campaign operative Julius Mutebi.
“I believe the people of Kawempe North deserve a free and fair election, not one marred by chaos and intimidation,” Nambi said through her lawyers, MESSRS Crane Associated Advocates.
One of the more serious allegations in the petition is the Electoral Commission’s alleged failure to account for results from 14 polling stations, affecting around 16,640 registered voters—a number that could have easily swung the final outcome.
Court documents claim that this mishandling amounts to substantial non-compliance with the Parliamentary Elections Act, calling into question the legitimacy of Nalukoola’s victory. Nambi is asking the court to annul the election results and order a fresh vote.
As tensions simmer, many political observers are closely watching how the case unfolds, given its potential impact not just on the two candidates, but on the broader contest for influence between the NRM and NUP in Kampala.
For the people of Kawempe North, the court’s decision could ultimately determine whether they head back to the polls—or if the dust will finally settle on a race that has kept the constituency on edge for m