MBARARA WOMAN MP POLLS COURT BATTLE! Judge Upholds Loydah Kyarikunda’s Victory, Throws Out Rwebyambu Petition With Costs
Loyda Kyarukunda Muhimbura (IN YELLOW) the first respondent
High Court in Mbarara has dismissed the electoral petition against the incumbent Mbarara Woman MP, Loydah Kyarikunda Twinomujuni.
Justice Tom Chemutai, in a ruling on Monday, confirmed Twinomujuni as the duly elected Mbarara District Woman Member of Parliament to the 12th Parliament.
Chemutai ruled that the High Court in which the electoral petition was filed lacks the jurisdiction to question academic papers, noting that it should have come up at the Pre-polling stage.
The Judge ruled that the evidence adduced before the Court clearly demonstrated that Kyarikunda was overqualified in that she had more than the minimum qualification to stand as a Member of Parliament.
During her nomination, Kyarikunda presented to the Electoral Commission an Enrolled Nursing Academic Transcript from Kabale School of Comprehensive Nursing, a Diploma in Palliative Care from Makerere University, a Diploma in General Nursing from Aga Khan University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Monash, South Africa and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Roehampton University.
He dismissed the petition with costs, confirming the election of Kyarikunda as the Woman Member of Parliament for Mbarara District since she was qualified for nomination.
He advised that Rwebyambu should have filed a complaint with the electoral commission, followed by an appeal to the High Court if she was aggrieved with the decision made by the Commission, adding that the High Court cannot sit as a Court of First Instance to hear and determine Pre-polling matters.
The Electoral Commission declared Loydah Kyarikunda Twinomujuni, winner of the 15th January 2026 election, with 31,456 votes, while the Petitioner, Margaret Ayebare Rwebyambu, who was the first runner-up, managed 1,6075 votes, Julia Desire Barugahare got 610 votes, and Hope Maurishia obtained 367 votes.
Rwenbyambu petitioned the High Court challenging the outcome of the elections and subsequent declaration of the Kyarikunda as the validly elected Woman Member of Parliament for Mbarara District.
In her petition, Rwebyambu said that the Electoral Commission, which was listed as the 2nd Respondent, failed to conduct the Elections in accordance with the provisions of the 1995 Constitution as amended and the Parliamentary Elections Act Cap 177 when it nominated and allowed Kyarikunda to be elected Member of Parliament without the requisite Academic qualifications.
Rwebyambu had asked the Court to annul the victory of Kyarikunda and declare her the winner, or direct the electoral commission to organise a fresh election.
This was the second petition against the Victory of Kyarikunda. In December last year, the then Mbarara District Independent Woman Member of Parliament Candidate Hope Maurishia petitioned the High Court seeking the disqualification of Kyarikunda as the NRM candidate for the seat, and also, before the Polling date, again Maurishia lodged a complaint with the Electoral Commission, based, among other things, on the academic qualifications of Kyarikunda.
The Electoral Commission entertained the complaint and decided in favour of Kyarikunda.
However, Maurishia, being dissatisfied with the decision of the Electoral Commission, lodged an Appeal to the High Court, and the Appeal was also dismissed.
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