The aftermath of the January 15 General Election has left several defeated incumbent Members of Parliament weighing their next moves, with choices ranging from court battles and political comebacks to quiet exits into private life. For some, defeat has triggered legal action.
A number of incumbents who lost their seats have petitioned courts, alleging electoral malpractice and vote rigging. They argue that the announced results do not reflect what transpired at polling stations and insist their victories were unlawfully taken. One such case is Dr Emmanuel Otaala, the incumbent MP for West Budama South, who lost to Mr George Oketcho of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Dr Otaala said the election was riddled with irregularities and has vowed to challenge the outcome in court, accusing the district returning officer of announcing results that contradict figures from polling stations.
‘My next step is going to court; I have a problem with the district returning officer, Mr Robert Twirize, and I want him to show me where he sourced his results,’ he said. Dr Otaala said he managed to deploy polling agents in all polling stations who handed him all the declaration forms and his tallying showed that he had obtained the highest number of votes.
The Kagoma County NRM flag bearer, Mr Fredrick Munirwa, blamed security operatives for his defeat, alleging they sided with Independent candidate, Mr Moses Walyomu.
He said his agents were arrested while vote tallying continued, adding that he was consulting his team to seek legal redress. Mr Charles Matovu, the Busiro South MP and the NUP flag bearer in the recently concluded parliamentary elections, said his next move is demanding for his ‘victory.’ Mr Matovu lost to NRM’s Kenan Opio.
According to him, what was announced by Mr Tolbert Musinguzi, the Wakiso District Electoral Commission returning officer, is totally different from what he had on his Declaration of Results forms.
‘I am on ground mobilising my supporters to demand for my victory. What I witnessed at the tally centre was broad day robbery and I condemn it,’ said Mr Matovu. However, not all defeated candidates are pursuing legal action. Some have opted to focus on their businesses, disillusioned with the political process.
The incumbent Woman MP for Mbale City, Ms Connie Galiwango, said it’s her time to move on.
‘I congratulate Lydia Wanyoto and also thank the people of Mbale for electing me three times as their Woman MP,’ she said.
Ms Wanyoto, who contested for the third time for the Mbale City Woman MP seat, was declared winner after polling 26,698 votes against Ms Galiwango’s 8,014 votes.
The latter ran as an independent. Ms Galiwango is not alone. The incumbent MP for Koboko County, Mr James Baba (NRM), said he has decided to retire from active politics to concentrate on his personal businesses. Mr Baba, 80, joined politics in 2006 and served as MP until 2011.
In 2011, he lost the NRM flag to Mr Ahmed Awongo in the primaries and did not contest in the General Election. He was then subsequently appointed as State minister for Internal Affairs in May 2011.
In 2016, he was re-elected Member of Parliament representing Koboko County. And in 2021, he won the seat on an NRM ticket. To date, he is serving on the Committee on East African Community Affairs. However, in 2026, he did not contest, paving the way for Mr Emmanuel Banya (NRM) to sail through unopposed in the parliamentary race.
Arua Central
The incumbent MP for Arua Central Division in Arua City, Mr Jackson Atima (NRM), lost the seat to Mr Muzaid Khemis of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). He said he was still contemplating his next course of action. In Maracha East Constituency, Ms Ruth Molly Ondoru, did not contest as she retired from politics.
‘I am going to concentrate on my personal work because I have many things to do. One of the things that I am going to concentrate on is a church project,’ she said.
Ms Ondoru will be succeeded by Mr Tom Aliti (NRM), a former commissioner of health services in the Ministry of Health. Mr Nathan Nabeta Igeme, the incumbent Independent MP for Jinja Southeast Constituency who lost the seat to Mr Paul Mwiru of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has conceded defeat. He said he is stepping down from active politics to focus on development projects generated through his investments.
‘I plan to construct low-cost housing units for residents of the Danida, Soweto, and Masese communities to improve living conditions and promote a better environment,’ said Mr Nabeta.
He further stated that he is ready to work with all newly elected Members of Parliament, regardless of their political affiliation. The Jinja City Incumbent Woman Member of Parliament (NUP), Ms Manjeri Kyebakutika, said she will remain active in politics despite her defeat in the recent elections.
‘I was defeated because I was betrayed by my party. I was denied the party card, so I will decide later whether to continue participating in politics as an independent,’ she said. Ms Kyebakutika was the only NUP Member of Parliament from the Busoga Sub-region in the 11th Parliament.
She was defeated by Ms Sarah Lwansasula, the NUP flag bearer, who garnered 21,665 votes, while Ms Kyebakutika finished fifth with 9,411 votes.
Mr Medard Lubega Sseggona, the outgoing MP for Busiro East Constituency, said he is already back in office for legal service, which he is going to be doing alongside farming. ‘I am not an idle person; I have a lot of work to do outside Parliament. I also apportion part of the time I have now for the family, which I have not given much time in the past years,’ he said.