Kampala, Uganda: There is growing uncertainty hanging over the parliamentary fate of Leader of the Opposition Hon Joel Ssenyonyi after the High Court set a hearing date for a petition challenging his nomination and others to contest for Nakawa West constituency.
According to a hearing notice issued Tuesday, January 06, the petition, which lists Ivan Bwowe as the petitioner, with the Electoral Commission named as the respondent, will be heard tomorrow, Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 10:00 am, or soon thereafter.
DailyExpress understands that the petition filed by the former Makerere Guild President challenges the nomination of Ssenyonyi and several other candidates, including Apuuli Rwamiti, Wilberforce Kyambadde, Vincent Okumu, Felix Okuye, Herbert Burora and Happy Nasasira, over alleged irregularities relating to the constituency they applied to contest.
Bwowe, a lawyer affiliated with the People’s Freedom Front (PFF), argues that Nakawa West constituency was not properly gazetted under Uganda’s electoral framework, rendering the nominations legally defective. He further contends that candidates were nominated for a constituency that, in law, does not exist.
Although the Electoral Commission had earlier dismissed the objections and cleared Ssenyonyi and the other candidates to contest, Bwowe escalated the matter to the High Court, where a determination is now pending.
Sources familiar with the proceedings say a ruling is expected before the end of the week, amid growing speculation that the decision could significantly affect the status of the Leader of the Opposition.
Some legal observers suggest the outcome of a recent case in Makindye Division, where NRM flag bearer Yasin Omari was declared unopposed after all rival candidates were disqualified over nomination irregularities, could weigh heavily on the court’s consideration of the Nakawa West petition, particularly on issues of constituency legality and procedural compliance.
By press time, Ssenyonyi and his legal team had not issued an official statement. Opposition figures have previously dismissed the petition as politically motivated, arguing that it is aimed at weakening opposition leadership through legal manoeuvres rather than electoral competition.
The High Court’s decision is expected to have far-reaching implications, not only for Ssenyonyi’s political future, but also for electoral nominations, constituency demarcation and the conduct of future elections.
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