National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Birungi Jackline Kobusingye has withdrawn her election petition challenging the victory of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Harriet Nakwedde in the Kayunga District Woman Member of Parliament race.
The withdrawal was announced on Wednesday before Justice Godfrey Himbaza at the High Court in Mukono, bringing to an end a legal challenge to the January 15, 2026 election results.
Kobusingye’s lawyer, Isaac Nambijja Kiwanuka, told the court that his client could no longer pursue the case because of personal difficulties, including the recent death of her father and an ongoing succession dispute over his estate.
He asked the court to allow the withdrawal without awarding costs against his client, arguing that each party should bear its own expenses. He also noted that Nakwedde, the first respondent, had not filed an affidavit in reply and had not objected to the withdrawal.
Nakwedde’s lawyers, Andrew Wabwezi of WAK Advocates and Derrick Ruzima of PACE Advocates, did not oppose the withdrawal but asked the court not to award costs against their client.
Wabwezi told the court that Kobusingye had initially sought a recount of votes at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kayunga, but the application was dismissed. She subsequently filed a revision, which was later withdrawn, before lodging the election petition at the High Court.
He said the defence had raised several points of law that could have led to the dismissal of the petition.
“Upon realising that we had put up a legal brick wall and facing imminent collapse of their petition, they took the only legal path left and that was to withdraw the petition entirely,” Wabwezi said.
He described the withdrawal as a vindication of Nakwedde’s election.
Nakwedde, who also addressed the court, said she had forgiven Kobusingye and would not seek payment of costs.
She recounted the legal proceedings that began with the recount application, proceeded to a revision and eventually culminated in the High Court petition.
“My opponent finally realised she couldn’t make it. So she came and applied that she be allowed to withdraw the petition. So finally today, the case has been withdrawn and the judge has pronounced once again that I was a duly elected woman member of parliament,” Nakwedde said.
She thanked God and the people of Kayunga for their support, adding that she was ready to serve her constituents.
On the issue of costs and the time spent in court, Nakwedde said she had entrusted the matter to God from the beginning.
“By them withdrawing the case means they have realised they have been tormented a lot. So for me, I forgive them. I don’t need any court… I forgive Birungi Jacqueline as the woman member of parliament, Kayunga, and also as the person Nakwedde Harriet. So no problem. We can make life continue,” she said.
However, lawyers representing the Electoral Commission, Kevin Amojong and Idris Kiwanuka Umar, took a different position. They asked the court to order Kobusingye to pay the Commission’s costs, arguing that the petition had consumed the court’s time and resources.
They further submitted that the petition would have failed even if it had proceeded to a hearing because of what they described as several legal loopholes. They argued that an award of costs would help discourage frivolous litigation.
Justice Himbaza granted Kobusingye’s application to withdraw the petition and confirmed Nakwedde as the duly elected Woman Member of Parliament for Kayunga District.
The judge scheduled Friday for a ruling on whether Kobusingye should pay the Electoral Commission’s costs. He said the decision would be based on the record in the Electronic Court Management Information System.
Nakwedde was declared the winner of the January 15, 2026 election with 20,753 votes. Independent candidate and former legislator Aidah Nantaba came second with 16,138 votes, while Kobusingye polled 15,790 votes.
Before filing the High Court petition, Kobusingye had applied for a recount of votes from selected polling stations at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kayunga. The application was dismissed after the court found that the declaration forms relied upon by the applicant had not been certified by the Electoral Commission.
The withdrawal of the petition ends the legal challenge to Nakwedde’s election, although the question of costs remains pending before the High Court.
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