EDITOR
The Hoima Chief Magistrate’s Court has dismissed a vote recount petition filed by National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Diana Ampaire in the recently concluded National Female Youth Member of Parliament race, citing evidence of tampering with ballot materials.
In a brief ruling delivered Tuesday night, His Worship George Kunihira said the court had scrutinized the integrity of the ballot materials—including ballot books, serial numbers, and seals—in the presence of lawyers representing all parties and the returning officer.
The court identified serious inconsistencies between the official report book and the physical ballot papers retrieved from the ballot boxes. While the official records indicated that 441 ballot papers had been used, only 440 were physically found in the ballot box.
Justice Kunihira further noted that ballot paper serial number 8 was recorded as used in the ballot book but could not be traced among the ballot papers counted. Additionally, two ballot papers bearing the same serial number—36—were discovered in the ballot box, despite the ballot book showing that the serial number appeared only once.
“These findings, when considered as a whole, lead this court to one conclusion on the balance of probabilities—that the ballot box in question was tampered with,” the magistrate ruled.
The court also raised concerns about discrepancies in the handling of seals and their serial numbers, observing inconsistencies between the official records and the materials presented before the court.
Given the irregularities, the magistrate concluded that proceeding with a recount would serve no purpose, as the credibility and integrity of the ballot box had already been compromised. Due to time constraints, the court delivered a summary ruling, with a detailed written judgment to be issued later.
The dismissal effectively brings Ampaire’s petition to a close, thereby upholding the election of Mercy Kanyesigye as the duly elected National Female Youth Member of Parliament.
Kanyesigye, who contested as an independent candidate, welcomed the court’s decision. In a post on her X handle (formerly Twitter), she expressed gratitude for the ruling.
“I am glad that justice has finally been done and that the will of the youth has been upheld. I thank everyone for the prayers and good wishes,” she wrote.
According to the Electoral Commission’s declared results, Kanyesigye won the election with 216 votes during polling held at Hoima City Stadium. Ampaire finished second with 198 votes.
Other candidates included independent contender Julia Muhumuza, who secured 24 votes, and Edith Namande Nakaiza of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who received one vote.
Ampaire had filed the application for a recount shortly after the declaration of results, alleging that some votes had been wrongly attributed to Kanyesigye. However, the court’s ruling now settles the matter, affirming the initial outcome announced by the Electoral Commission.
