By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Entebbe High Court, has officially closed the hearing of the election petition by late former Busiro South Legislator, Charles Matovu, challenging the victory of NRM’s Kenan Opio as the Busiro South, Member of Parliament. The closure of the electoral petition followed the death of NUP’s Matovu who was the petitioner.
In an abatement notice of the election petition dated October 28, 2026, the Entebbe High court Assistant Registrar, Rashida Butanula, noted that the closure of the hearing, was reached under Section 86 of The Parliamentary Elections Act (cap 177) and Rule 20 of Parliamentary Elections (Interim Provisions) Election Petitions) Rules S.I.141-2.
The notice reads in parts: ” NOTICE OF ABATEMENT of election petition No.0001 of 2026 for the directly elected Member of Parliament for Busiro County South Constituency in Wakiso District is given following the death of MATOVU CHARLES- the sole Petitioner which occurred on 22nd Day of October 2026”.
The presiding Judge, Justice Jamson Karemani, was supposed to issue his ruling on the matter on November 20,2026.
In September, Justice Karemani dismissed Matovu’s application against the Electoral Commission for discovery of election materials, which it used to declare Opio as winner of Busiro South parliamentary polls.
In the petition, Matovu was seeking for the commission to produce the official report book, tamper proof declaration of result forms, accountability of ballot paper forms, presidential elections declaration of Results forms for the Electoral Area of Busiro County South, official report book DR Forms, printout of scanner report, certified DR forms of 102 polling stations in Nkumba Ward, Kisubi Ward and Kitala ward and certified DR forms of 58 polling stations.
Matovu argued that the inspection of the documents would assist the court to come to a proper determination of his original petition against the current MP Opio, and the Electoral commission in which he alleges that there was non-compliance with the electoral laws, which affected the election and prayed that the said election be set aside.
However, Justice Karemani dismissed the application, calling it a fishing expedition and outlined several grounds, noting that Matovu didn’t specify whether the documents requested for belonged to the whole constituency or for certain parishes or certain polling stations which qualified it to be a fishing expedition.
Matovu died of a strange illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital last week.
While addressing mourners during Matovu’s requiem Mass, held at St. Bruno Sserunkuuma Catholic Church in Kasenge zone on Saturday October, 24, 2026, the deceased’s father, Vincent Bukenya, revealed that doctors at Rubaga Hospital who initially treated his son, told him that he was poisoned.
He added, “And yet in the past, they had brutally beaten him, when he was returning from the campaign”.
The late Matovu was be laid to rest on Sunday October 25,2026, at Kungu-Lutale zone.
