The High Court in Agago District has ordered former Aruu County MP, Hon. Samuel Odonga-Otto to pay more than Shs 22 million in legal costs to incumbent MP Hon. Christopher Komakech and the Electoral Commission, effectively closing a long-running and costly election dispute.
The ruling, issued on April 28, 2026, enforces a Court of Appeal decision that overturned an earlier High Court judgment which had nullified Komakech’s 2021 parliamentary victory.
Court records show the final amount was confirmed after taxation proceedings conducted by Deputy Registrar Betty Ajok, who assessed the payable legal costs.
The taxation ruling also concludes proceedings linked to a politically charged rivalry in the region, following the appellate court’s reversal of the initial High Court nullification.
Odonga-Otto, who ran as an independent candidate and narrowly lost the 2026 Aruu County race by just 26 votes, now faces continued financial and legal consequences tied to his election challenges.
The decision underscores the significant financial risks facing petitioners whose election disputes fail on appeal within Uganda’s judicial system, particularly in closely contested parliamentary races.
