By Edward Byamukama
The Hoima high court has set October 1 and 2 as hearing dates for the election petition filled in regard to Hoima City Woman Member of Parliamentary seat.
Today, the Hoima High Court circuit began handling an election petition filed by Princess Diana Jane Mugenyi, the former NRM candidate for Hoima City Woman Member of Parliament. Mugenyi lost the election to Asinansi Nyakato of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), who was declared the winner with 17,142 votes against Mugenyi’s 15,197.
Other candidates were National Unity Platform-NUP’s Bridget Kiiza, who obtained 1,362 votes, and independent candidate Nalumaga Sylvia Balyesiima, who polled 1,009 votes. The results were gazetted on February 6, 2026.
Hundreds of supporters, candidates, and lawyers gathered at the court premises as early as 7am as the hearing got underway under heightened security.
The anti-riot police was deployed around court premises as hearing of the election petition challenging results from the January 2026 General Elections kicked off. By 9:00 am, Uganda Police Force personnel had deployed heavily at the court gate and around the court premises as candidates, lawyers and supporters arrived for the proceedings.
Now, when the court session chaired by Charles Kasibayo, the Mbale resident judge kicked off at around 10am. Lawyers for Nyakato Asinansi headed by Counsel Merdad Lubega Ssegona and lawyers for Princes Diana Mugenyi led by Mujuruzi Hamfrey of Mujuruzi and Tumwesigye advocates made various submissions regarding the petition.
The Judge later guided the teams to file various documents and evidence ahead of the full hearing of the case on October 1 and 2. The Judge also guided the two parties to agree on the case outside court before the hearing dates arrive.
