In the Kawempe North by-election petition submitted by NRM’s Faridah Nambi dropped a bombshell allegation in court accusing Hon. Elias Nalukoola of bribing three key witnesses to withdraw their affidavits.
The accusation made during a heated courtroom session has now put the integrity of the petition under intense scrutiny igniting debate about the true face of Uganda’s electoral justice.
Appearing before Kampala High Court, Faridah Nambi’s legal team made the startling claim that Nalukoola who currently holds the Kawempe North parliamentary seat “unethically interfered with the judicial process” by offering bribes to three sworn witnesses in a bid to sway the outcome of the election petition.
The Lead counsel for Nambi argued that the alleged interference is a gross violation of professional and legal conduct and undermines the credibility of court proceedings.
The lawyer further urged the presiding judge to take the allegations seriously given the sensitive nature of election petitions and their impact on democracy.
The court has adjourned the matter to May 5, 2025 to allow MP Nalukoola time to formally respond to the accusations.
In response, Nalukoola’s legal team dismissed the bribery allegations as “baseless and politically charged,” accusing Nambi of using courtroom theatrics to divert attention from the lack of substantial evidence in the actual petition.
“This is a serious legal process not a stage for political drama,” said Nalukoola’s lawyer. “If they have evidence, let them present it properly. Otherwise, the court must rely on facts not fiction.”
The case stems from the 2025 Kawempe North By-elections, where Elias Nalukoola emerged victorious as the MP for Kawempe North defeating several candidates including Faridah Nambi, who ran under the ruling party (NRM) ticket.
Nambi filed a petition alleging electoral malpractice, voter intimidation and irregularities that she claims tilted the outcome unfairly in Nalukoola’s favor. With this week’s bribery twist, the legal battle has taken on new urgency and controversy.
Allegations of bribery in witness testimony strike at the heart of Uganda’s electoral and judicial credibility. If proven, the case could not only invalidate the witness withdrawals but potentially upend the entire election outcome for Kawempe North.
The court’s next hearing on May 5th will be critical. All eyes will be on whether Nambi’s team can substantiate their allegations with hard evidence like audio recordings, financial trails or witness testimonies or whether the case collapses under the weight of political posturing.
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