President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s newly announced election victory has landed in court after former presidential candidate Robert Kasibante filed a petition challenging the results, alleging widespread irregularities during last week’s polls.
Kasibante lodged the petition at the Supreme Court yesterday at 5:00am, hours before the legal deadline for presidential election challenges. Court officials confirmed receipt of the filing but declined to share details before a formal hearing schedule is issued.
In a brief statement outside court, Kasibante said his decision was driven by what he called a “deeply compromised election.”
“This country deserves a leadership chosen freely by the people. What we witnessed was not a reflection of the voter’s will,” Kasibante told journalists, flanked by supporters.
Although Kasibante finished far behind Museveni and leading challenger Robert Kyagulanyi, he insists that “the issue is not who came second or third, but whether Uganda’s vote matters at all.”
Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo dismissed the move as “an expected but legally useless exercise,” adding that the NRM is confident the election was conducted within the law.
“Courts will throw it out. The opposition must learn to build votes, not excuses,” Opondo said.
There was no immediate comment from the Electoral Commission, though its chairperson had earlier declared Museveni’s re-election as “transparent and credible.”
Under Ugandan law, the Supreme Court must begin reviewing the petition within strict timelines and deliver a final ruling within 45 days.
The challenge marks Museveni’s seventh presidential victory to be contested in court, continuing a pattern that has defined Uganda’s multi-party elections since 2001.
Political analysts note that although past petitions have not overturned results, they have occasionally triggered electoral reforms—some implemented, many abandoned.
News of the filing spread quickly on social media despite lingering connectivity restrictions in parts of the country.
Supporters praised Kasibante for “standing up for democracy,” while critics accused the independent candidate of chasing relevance after a poor performance.
Street-level sentiment remained subdued in Kampala as businesses opened normally, though police maintained a noticeable presence near key government buildings.
