In the aftermath of Kawempe North parliamentary by-election, NRM candidate Faridah Nambi has announced her decision to challenge the results in court citing electoral malpractice.
Nambi who secured 8,593 votes claims that irregularities particularly at her own polling station, Mbogo Playground led to her losing the race.
She insists that her votes were tampered with raising concerns about the integrity of the election process.
“As of today, the Electoral Commission has told me that I have 9,058 votes up from the 8,593 they said I had on the day they announced the winner,” Nambi said.
Despite running on the NRM ticket in an opposition dominated area, Nambi opted for a grassroots approach engaging in door-to-door campaigns to connect directly with voters.
She admitted that she was initially apprehensive about her reception given the area’s history of hostility toward NRM candidates.
However, she was surprised by the change in political tolerance noting that even opposition supporters allowed her to campaign freely.
“In 2021, when I stood as the NRM candidate for Kampala Woman MP, there were areas that you could not access and if you dared wear yellow clothes, they would be torn off your body. But this story changed when I stood for MP for Kawempe North. I must admit that I received a much better reception this time where no one insulted me even those who you could clearly tell didn’t belong to the NRM party,” Nambi said.
Nambi’s main contention in her court petition is the alleged manipulation of votes at Mbogo Playground polling station. According to her, the final tally announced by the Electoral Commission (EC) did not match the figures recorded by her polling agents.
“I voted at Mbogo Playground but my polling agents reported a different vote count than what was officially announced. This denies me my right to a fair election,” she stated.
She further claims that the destruction of votes and other election irregularities compromised the credibility of the results reinforcing her decision to pursue legal action.
Kawempe North has been a stronghold for opposition politics with NRM candidates facing difficulty in securing electoral victories.
Nambi’s performance however, was the strongest showing by an NRM candidate since Jamada Luzinda signaling a potential shift in political dynamics within the constituency.
Despite her loss, she remains optimistic about her political future emphasizing that her improved reception in the area is a sign that the ruling party is gradually regaining ground.
With Nambi heading to court, the legal battle over Kawempe North’s election results is just beginning.
If the court finds merit in her case, the results could be nullified leading to either a vote recount or a fresh election. However if her petition is dismissed, it will solidify the opposition’s continued dominance in the constituency.
