The Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament race has taken a dramatic turn after the Chief Magistrate of Masaka, Albert Asiimwe, declared NRM candidate Justine Nameere the winner, overturning an earlier victory announced in favour of NUP’s Rose Nalubowa.
In his ruling, the magistrate said the court found evidence of irregularities and tampering in more than five ballot boxes, a factor that significantly affected the final outcome of the vote.
Following the recount and court-led review, Nameere polled 25,502 votes, beating Nalubowa’s 23,176, handing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) a crucial victory in a city traditionally viewed as opposition-leaning.
The decision stems from petitions arising out of the January 2026 general elections, in which the National Unity Platform (NUP) challenged the initial results, alleging serious electoral malpractices.
According to the court, the inconsistencies discovered during the recount were substantial enough to invalidate the earlier declaration that had favoured the opposition candidate.
Political Tensions Resurface in Masaka
The ruling has reignited political tensions in Masaka, a region long considered resistant to NRM dominance. The seat’s reversal underscores the fierce contest between the ruling party and the opposition in urban centres across the country.
The judgment triggered heated reactions online, with critics accusing the process of fraud and judicial bias, while NRM supporters welcomed the ruling as a correction of earlier mistakes.
The controversy has once again raised broader concerns about electoral integrity in Uganda, echoing disputes seen in previous election cycles and concerns previously highlighted by election observers, including the EU Election Observation Mission.
As legal and political battles continue to shape Uganda’s post-election landscape, the Masaka ruling stands as one of the most contentious outcomes of the 2026 polls.