KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s High Court has dismissed a pre-election petition by lawyer and parliamentary aspirant Ivan Bwowe, clearing all eight candidates to remain on the ballot for Nakawa Division West ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Justice Collins Acellam ruled that an error cited by Bwowe in the nomination papers was a minor clerical mistake that did not affect the substance of the process. He said courts should protect voters’ democratic rights rather than rely on technicalities.
The ruling, delivered electronically Thursday morning, allows a full contest in one of Kampala’s key constituencies. Incumbent Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi is seeking re-election.
Bwowe had asked the court to nullify the nominations of seven rival candidates and declare him the sole valid candidate. He argued that while he was nominated for “Nakawa Division West,” his rivals were listed under “Nakawa West,” which he claimed was not the constituency’s legal name.
The Electoral Commission and the other candidates countered that the difference in wording was an administrative error that caused no confusion. They said all nomination documents, control forms, and campaign programs referred to the same geographical area.
In his 12-page judgment, Justice Acellam agreed with the respondents, saying the error was corrected during the nomination process and could not mislead voters. “A proper mandate is through the ballot box,” he said, adding that granting Bwowe’s request would deny voters their right to choose a representative.
The judge criticized Bwowe’s attempt to be declared unopposed as an “audacious attempt to sneak to Parliament to represent a group of people whose mandate he has not obtained.” He cited the Electoral Commission’s authority under election laws to correct non-fatal errors, noting that “Nakawa West” and “Nakawa Division West” are one and the same but often used interchangeably.
The court dismissed the petition and ordered each party to bear its own costs.
Responses from the Candidates
Bwowe, reacting to the decision, said: “We have received the long-awaited decision in our appeal concerning the Nakawa Division West Constituency matter. While the outcome has not been in our favor, we respect the decision of the High Court exercised within its appellate jurisdiction. Our commitment to the rule of law remains firm and unwavering. The struggle continues. I thank you all for your support. My trust is in the Lord. For God and My Country.”
Ssenyonyi responded with a biblical reference and his view on the petition: “Jeremiah 1:19: ‘They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.’ The effort of the appellant through this petition is an audacious attempt to sneak to Parliament to represent a group of people whose mandate he has not obtained. I agree with counsel for the respondents that the ‘Nakawa West’ Constituency and ‘Nakawa Division West Constituency’ are one and the same but often used interchangeably.”
Candidates and Implications
The respondents included the Electoral Commission and seven candidates: Happy Nasasira, Herbert Anderson Burora, Felix Ephraim Okuye, Vincent Norbert Okumu, Joel Ssenyonyi, Wilberforce Kyambadde, and Apuuli Rwamiti.
Ssenyonyi, a National Unity Platform legislator and government critic, remains the highest-profile contender in the race. The ruling stabilizes the contest in Nakawa Division West, a densely populated urban constituency with strong opposition support. With nominations confirmed, candidates are expected to intensify campaigns ahead of elections expected in early 2026.
The decision reflects a broader judicial trend in Uganda favoring substantive democracy over technical errors and reinforces the message that the final choice lies with voters at the ballot box.
