NUP’s Rose Nalubowa has announced that she’s going to High Court to challenge the controversial court-ordered recount that handed the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament seat to NRM’s Justine Nameere.
The decision to go to the High Court comes just hours after Masaka Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe declared Nameere the winner following a tense recount that overturned Nalubowa’s earlier victory in the January 15 parliamentary elections.
“We have moved to the High Court to challenge the illegal conduct of the Magistrate. The will of Masaka City must be upheld, and we shall defend our victory to the end,” Nalubowa announced on her X.
According to the final recount announced by the court, Nameere polled 25,502 votes against Nalubowa’s 23,176, reversing the original Electoral Commission declaration that had given Nalubowa 25,443 votes compared to Nameere’s 20,324.
The recount was ordered after Nameere petitioned the Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court, alleging serious irregularities in 11 polling stations. The court ruled in her favour and ordered a recount of votes from the disputed stations.
However, the exercise was marred by controversy after more than five ballot boxes were found with broken and tampered seals. Despite objections from Nalubowa’s legal team, the Chief Magistrate ordered the recount to proceed, excluding the affected boxes.
Nalubowa and her lawyers protested the decision and walked out of the tally centre, saying the process had been compromised.
The recount began on Friday, January 30, and continued under tight security until Sunday night, when Nameere was declared winner.
With Nalubowa now taking the matter to the High Court, the Masaka City Woman MP seat is set for another round of legal and political battle, as the opposition insists that the voters’ choice must be respected.
NRM’s Justine Nameere declared Masaka City Woman MP after vote recount
