The Hoima Magistrate’s Court has dismissed an election petition challenging Mercy Kanyesigye’s victory as National Female Youth Member of Parliament, after finding that ballot materials presented for a recount had been tampered with.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, February 17, followed an earlier court order for a vote recount after Diana Ampaire Kampe’s legal team alleged irregularities in the conduct of the February 6 election.
However, when the ballot boxes were produced in court, Kanyesigye’s lawyer, Asuman Basalirwa, objected to the recount, arguing that the seals on the boxes differed from those used during the original voting process. He told the court that the discrepancies indicated possible interference with the election materials.
Basalirwa presented evidence showing that the seal numbers on the ballot boxes did not match those recorded on polling day. He subsequently asked the court to nullify the recount process and uphold the declared results.
After examining the submissions, the court ruled that the integrity of the ballot materials had been compromised and that a recount could not proceed under such circumstances. The magistrate therefore upheld the earlier declared results confirming Mercy Kanyesigye as the duly elected National Female Youth MP.
According to preliminary results announced after the February 6 vote, Kanyesigye secured 216 votes, while Diana Ampaire Kampe polled 198 votes. Julia Muhumuza received 24 votes, National Unity Platform candidate Edith Namande got one vote, and one ballot was declared invalid.
The ruling has sparked fresh public debate about the handling and security of election materials after voting. Observers have questioned who bears responsibility for safeguarding ballot boxes once polls close, particularly amid growing concerns over reports of tampering in cases where recounts are ordered.
