Kampala;— The Supreme Court of Uganda has rejected an application by former National Peasants Party presidential candidate, Robert Kasibante, seeking to adjourn proceedings in his petition challenging the outcome of the January 15, 2026 presidential election.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, January 28, the apex court declined Kasibante’s request to halt the hearing of his substantive application until the Electoral Commission (EC) produces internal electoral documents and allows a forensic audit of the biometric voter verification machines used during the polls.
Kasibante, who filed his petition on January 17, is seeking to have the election results annulled, alleging widespread irregularities and violations of the Constitution and electoral laws. Through his lawyers, he argued that access to EC documents and forensic examination of the biometric system were critical to proving his claims, particularly regarding voter verification failures and the conduct of the Commission.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the application lacked merit and emphasized the need to adhere strictly to constitutional timelines governing presidential election petitions.
The court noted that Article 104 of the Constitution requires such petitions to be heard and concluded expeditiously, leaving little room for delays arising from interlocutory applications.
The ruling clears the way for the petition to proceed as scheduled, without the adjournment and additional forensic processes sought by the petitioner.
Kasibante’s main petition raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, including the performance of biometric voter verification machines and the independence of the Electoral Commission. The court is now expected to focus on the substantive issues raised, assessing the evidence and legal arguments presented by both parties.
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the declared winner of the election, has already filed a response through his legal team from K&K Advocates, led by senior counsel Usaama Sebuufu and counsel Edwin Karugire.
The President through his legal team denies all allegations, insisting that the election was conducted in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Commission Act, and the Presidential Elections Act.
The case now moves to the next stage of hearings, with the Supreme Court set to determine whether the 2026 presidential election results should be upheld or nullified, a decision expected to have far-reaching implications for the country’s political landscape.