By Patience Namuddu
The Mubende Chief Magistrate’s Court has overturned the earlier declaration of results in the Buwekula South parliamentary election after a court-ordered recount, declaring National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Dedan Mubangizi the winner.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, January 28, Chief Magistrate Noah Ssajjabbi nullified the victory that had initially been awarded to independent candidate Fred Tumwesigye, citing the outcome of a detailed and transparent recount conducted under court supervision.
The recount followed an election petition filed by Mubangizi challenging the results announced by the Mubende District Returning Officer. The exercise involved all 89 ballot boxes from the 89 polling stations in the constituency.
While delivering the ruling, Magistrate Ssajjabbi said each ballot box was first verified and found to be properly sealed before being reopened for counting.
“Upon examining all the 89 ballot boxes from the 89 polling stations and counting all the votes found therein, I have completed the tally, and these are the results,” Ssajjabbi said.
According to the final tally announced in court, Mubangizi polled 7,908 votes, while Tumwesigye garnered 7,505 votes. The National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate, Edward Ssempiira, received 1,878 votes.
The court noted that the integrity of the recount process was maintained throughout, with seals on all ballot boxes confirmed intact prior to reopening.
“This implies that Dedan Mubangizi received the highest number of votes in the recount, and I accordingly, under the law, declare him the winner of the election through the recount and the rightful Member of Parliament for Buwekula South,” the magistrate ruled.
Speaking after the judgment, Mubangizi welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for justice and electoral transparency.
“We are very excited and grateful to the people of Buwekula South. Justice has finally prevailed,” he said, adding that his team was satisfied with the thorough nature of the recount.
However, Tumwesigye rejected the court’s decision and announced plans to pursue further legal action. He said he had instructed his lawyers to seek a police investigation into alleged electoral fraud and tampering with election materials.
The recount overturned the initial results announced by Returning Officer Ferdinand Tumwesigye Mulekezi, who had earlier declared Tumwesigye winner with 8,804 votes, against Mubangizi’s 7,998, while Ssempiira had polled 1,915 votes.