The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Rukungiri, Uganda | URN | The High Court sitting in Rukungiri has set September 24, 2026, for the hearing of a petition challenging the election of Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi as Member of Parliament for Kinkiizi East County. The petition was filed in March by former Kanungu District LC5 Chairperson Sam Arineitwe Kajojo, who is challenging Baryomunsi’s victory in the 2026 General Elections.
Baryomunsi, who was then serving as Minister for ICT and National Guidance, retained the seat with 23,830 votes against Kajojo’s 20,739. The race also attracted Ruth Karungi Turyakira, Godfrey Akampa, FDC’s Arans Mark Tabaruka, PFF’s Benedicto Nuwamanya and independent candidates Alex Byamukama and Aggrey Naturinda.
In Election Petition No. 003 of 2026, filed through Ngaruye, Ruhindi Spencer & Co. Advocates, Kajojo alleges that Baryomunsi’s victory was marred by electoral irregularities. He alleges voter bribery in violation of Electoral Commission guidelines and claims that his polling agents were assaulted and chased away from several polling stations by supporters of Baryomunsi.
Kajojo also alleges irregularities in the tallying process, claiming that results from some polling stations exceeded the number of registered voters, which he says points to possible ballot stuffing and vote rigging. He is asking the court to nullify Baryomunsi’s election. During Monday’s court session, Kajojo’s lawyers, led by Boniface Ruhindi Ngaruye, asked Justice Richard Wejuli Wabwire to allow them to file additional affidavits to the 36 already on the court record.
Justice Wabwire, the visiting judge handling election petitions in Rukungiri and Kanungu districts, granted the request but directed the lawyers to file the additional affidavits by September 16, 2026. Baryomunsi and his legal team were directed to file their response by September 18.
Ruhindi argued that the time given to file the additional affidavits was insufficient, but Justice Wabwire maintained the timelines and directed the parties to submit the documents through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). The court was informed that Rukungiri High Court does not have IFMIS services, but the judge insisted that the parties comply with the deadlines.
He subsequently fixed September 24, 2026, at 9:00 am for the substantive hearing of the petition and directed all parties to comply with the court orders. Speaking after the session, Kajojo said he was ready to file the additional affidavits and present what he described as substantial evidence of irregularities surrounding Baryomunsi’s victory.
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Baryomunsi, however, dismissed the petition, saying Kajojo knew he had lost the election after also failing to win the National Resistance Movement-NRM party primaries. He said the issues raised in the petition were insufficient to overturn the election result and accused Kajojo of filing the case in the hope that evidence would emerge later in his favour. Baryomunsi said he was not worried about the petition and was confident that his lawyers would defend his victory.
The Kinkiizi East petition is among several election disputes before the Rukungiri High Court. By press time, Ingrid Turinawe, the PFF flag bearer who petitioned against the victory of retired General Henry Tumukunde, Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, in the Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary election, was also before the court.
Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police John Ngayure Ndungutse, who petitioned against the election of John Ruuji Kaberuka in Kinkiizi West County, was also awaiting the hearing of his petition.
