There’s simmering tension in Kamuli Municipality after the High Court in Jinja recalled a case file from Kamuli Magistrates’ Court where an application for a vote for the parliamentary race was filed.
The incumbent Kamuli Municipality MP, Baroda Kayanga Watongola, who contested as an Independent candidate, sought a vote recount, citing discrepancies in the declared results following the January 15, 2026, parliamentary polls in which she lost the ruling NRM flagbearer.
Ms Watongola, who received 3,353 votes, was defeated by National Resistance (NRM)’s Mastula Namatovu, who polled 8, 582 ballots.
Ms Watongola, who finished third, argues that ‘errors and discrepancies in the election results affected the outcome’ of the exercise, prompting her to request that the Electoral Commission (EC) avail all the ballot boxes to the court for a recount.
Chief Magistrate Owino Abdonson initially ruled in favour of the recount and ordered that the ballot boxes be brought to court on February 3, 2026.
The ruling sparked jubilation among Watongola’s supporters while Mastula’s camp protested, forcing Kamuli District Police Commander, Mr Henry Mugarura to deploy more policemen.
‘In a highly charged political situation like this, where it is public versus the law, we can’t take security for granted. We are more than prepared with deployment up to the municipality, in case it spills over,” Mr Mugarura said.
However, a standoff between the magistrate and the Returning Officer over how to transport election materials led the Jinja High Court Circuit to recall the file for review.
‘You are directed to immediately forward the said file with the matter for disposal before the High Court Judge,” a letter signed by Deputy Registrar Robert Mukanza reads in part.
After the High Court ordered the recount, Ms Watongola affirmed her commitment to transparency, saying she would accept the outcome and not allow fraudulent victories or hate campaigns to tarnish her image.
Ms Namatovu, on the other hand, blamed external forces and senior NRM leaders for fueling the application seeking to overturn her victory.
‘We respect the popular vote. Baroda previously rigged and defeated me by 345 votes and went to parliament, where she neglected the constituents. I remained with them, and they showed her the exit with a difference of 5,000 ballots, yet she came to antagonise the will and choice of the voters,” she said.
Ms Watongola replaced her late mother, Rehema Watongola, who succumbed to Covid-19 in November 2020.
However, she finished third in the January 2026 polls.
Other candidates in the race were: Azizi Luwano, another Independent candidate who finished second with 3,389 votes, Mr Moses Bigirwa of the Common Man’s Party (CMP) who polled 1,059 votes, National Unity Platform (NUP)’s Godfrey Mugoya who garnered 671 votes, Joshua Farouk Tezikuba who got 143 votes and Mubi Azalwa who trailed with 59 votes.