By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
The Mbale High Court has set hearing dates for several election-related petitions involving the Mbale City Mayor and the Namisindwa County Member of Parliament, following a case-management conference held on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Justice Lillian Omara met lawyers representing the parties in four cases, assessing their readiness and setting timelines for the filing of outstanding documents ahead of the hearings.
The election petition case filed by Magombe Vincent challenging the election of the current Mbale City Mayor, Joyce Matuka Kidulu, alongside the Electoral Commission is scheduled for hearing on October 15, 2026.
While speaking to the media after the court session, Eddy Nangulu, who represents Mayor Kidulu, said the court had guided all parties on the requirements they must fulfil before the hearing begins.
“The court has taken all the parties through its expectations and set the date for hearing. The parties have also been given a schedule to file their missing and final documents before we commence the hearing,” Eddie said. He added that the legal team had been waiting for the opportunity to have the matter heard in court.
“We have been waiting for this day since the end of the election cycle. The day has come to expose the matter,” Eddie noted.
Another closely watched case is Masika Apollo versus Metrine Nanzala Musufwa the Namisindwa county legislator and the Electoral Commission. The petition challenges the election of Musufwa as the Member of Parliament for Namisindwa County. The case has been scheduled for hearing on September 22 and 23, 2026.
Rebecca Nabumboyi of Wakosese Advocates, who represents Musufwa as the first respondent, expressed confidence that her client would successfully defend the petition.
Nabumboyi said Masika’s petition challenges Musufwa’s election on allegations that she was not a Ugandan citizen at the time she was elected Member of Parliament for Namisindwa County.
She, however, dismissed the allegation, maintaining that Musufwa is a Ugandan citizen and that her legal team is confident in its case.
Nabumboyi said the court had provided both parties with guidance on the requirements they must fulfil before the hearing.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Masika’s legal team were unsuccessful, as his lawyers declined to speak to the media after the court session.
Justice Omara will also continue handling other election-related cases, including Diana Cherotwo versus the Electoral Commission and Jackline Sange, involving parties from the Sebei Sub-region, as well as Okoler Enoch versus Aisu Ibrahim and the Electoral Commission (Pallisa).
With the hearing dates now set, the parties are expected to complete the filing of their outstanding documents before returning to court.
