Rwambikana, Ahabwe to pay costs as Court upholds Byenjeru’s Election victory

Amos Tayebwa – Ntungamo

The High Court in Mbarara has dismissed an election petition challenging the victory of Kajara County Member of Parliament Hunter Byenjeru Tukahairwa, ordering the petitioners, Deus Muhwezi Rwambikana and Venancio Ahabwe, to pay costs.

The ruling, delivered electronically through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) by Justice Tom Chemtai on October 12, 2026, confirmed Byenjeru’s election as the directly elected MP for Kajara County in Ntungamo District.

Rwambikana and Ahabwe had filed separate election petitions challenging Byenjeru’s victory, alongside the Electoral Commission, accusing the commission of failing to conduct the election in accordance with the 1995 Constitution, as amended, and the Parliamentary Elections Act.

The petitioners argued that Byenjeru was ineligible to contest for Parliament because of Section 49(7) of the Leadership Code Act. They claimed that a demotion order issued against him by the Leadership Code Tribunal, which removed him from his position as Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Health, barred him from holding public office for five years.

However, in his ruling, Justice Chemtai held that the petitioners should have appealed to the High Court against the Electoral Commission’s decision on their pre-nomination complaint.

The court further found that Byenjeru had been demoted but not dismissed from public service, and therefore was not barred from contesting under Section 49(7) of the Leadership Code Act.

Justice Chemtai consequently ruled that Byenjeru qualified for nomination, was validly nominated and was duly elected as a Member of Parliament.

“In the premises, the petition is dismissed with costs in accordance with the above rule. The election of the 1st Respondent as a directly Elected Member of Parliament for Kajara County, Ntungamo District, is accordingly confirmed,” Justice Chemtai ruled.

The Kajara County election petition is the first among the 2026 parliamentary election petitions filed at the Mbarara High Court to be dismissed, according to the information provided.

Following the ruling, Byenjeru called on residents of Kajara County to remain calm, reconcile and focus on development initiatives aimed at transforming the constituency into a model county.

He also urged his former opponents to put aside their differences and work together for the benefit of the people, reaffirming his commitment to serving the electorate in fulfilment of his mandate as their Member of Parliament.