Kampala, Uganda – Uganda’s Supreme Court in has thrown out an application seeking to halt the 15 January 2026 general elections, firmly ruling that it has no constitutional mandate to interfere in pre-election disputes.
The case, filed under Civil Application Nos. 23 and 24 of 2025 by Mukisa Patrick, targeted the Attorney General, the Electoral Commission, and President Yoweri Museveni, asking court to stop the upcoming presidential election over alleged constitutional and electoral concerns.
Mukisa urged the court to issue declarations based on past Supreme Court rulings from the 2016 presidential election and to restrain the Electoral Commission from conducting the forthcoming polls. However, the court noted that he is not a presidential candidate and therefore not legally authorized to file a presidential election petition under the Constitution.
The matter was heard by a seven-member panel led by Justice Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, alongside Justices Mike Chibita, Stephen Musota, Christopher Madrama Izama, Catherine Bamugemereire, Monica Mugenyi, and Muzamiru Kibeedi.
After reviewing written and oral submissions, the court ruled the application incompetent and misconceived.
The Justices emphasized that:
• Article 104 of the Constitution only applies to post-election petitions filed by aggrieved presidential candidates.
• The Supreme Court’s role under Article 132 is mainly appellate, not original, in pre-election matters.
• Pre-election disputes belong to the Electoral Commission, with appeals handled by the High Court.
• The Court cannot issue an injunction stopping elections, since the Constitution mandates the Electoral Commission to conduct polls.
The Court further ruled that President Museveni was wrongly sued, citing presidential immunity under the Constitution. Proceedings against him were struck out.
With the application dismissed and no costs awarded, the ruling clears all legal obstacles in the way of the 15 January 2026 elections.
Uganda now marches toward polling day with the Supreme Court making it clear, the ballot must go on.
