LORD MAYOR BALIMWEZO TESTIFIES IN LUBAGA III ELECTION PETITION: CLAIMS RESULTS WERE INFLATED TO FAVOUR NRM'S KABUGO

By Peter Ssuuna

The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Eng. Ronald Balimwezo, has testified in the Mwanga II Court in Mengo in the case filed by Julius Katongole, who sued NRM's Bonny Kabugo and the Electoral Commission, claiming his votes were stolen in the just-concluded election.

Balimwezo held the Holy Bible and took an oath before Justice Joseph Kwesiga, after which Kabugo's lawyer began to cross-examine him with tough questions which he answered.

Balimwezo stated that he and Katongole had shared agents at some polling stations and that the number of voters on the same voters' register was the same, and he did not expect that it was inflated in relation to the votes given to Kabugo.

He added that all the DR forms were certified by the Electoral Commission.

The petitioner's side led by lawyer Jude Mbabaali stated that they have finished presenting their three witnesses as listed in the documents they presented to court, who were the main petitioner, Julius Katongole, Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo and Olivia Kyompiire.

The respondents' side, which is yet to be cross-examined and is led by lawyer Martin Ainebyona, stated that one of the witnesses they had listed, the NRM Chairperson in Lubaga, Ivan Kamuntu Majembere, has been removed and his affidavit withdrawn from their evidence because the person is sick and cannot come to court to testify.

The Electoral Commission's lawyer Ashraf Hakim also stated that he wants the court to adjourn the case because he is supposed to present witness Abubaker Kayondo who is in Masaka court also testifying in similar election petition cases.

Even so, lawyer Ainebyona had been ready to lead Kabugo to be cross-examined, but lawyer Mbabaali asked the Magistrate for an adjournment, saying he has something disturbing his mind and cannot continue to hear the case which may affect him due to his condition.

Magistrate Kwesiga gave October 19, 2026 for these witnesses to appear for the case to continue and that on that day he wants all parties to finalize so they wait for the court's decision.

Katongole contested to represent the residents of Lubaga III at the LCV level which includes areas like Najjanankumbi, Nateete and Lubaga, and he is challenging the victory of NRM's Kabugo and wants the votes to be recounted or at least he be declared the winner.

Katongole says in some DR forms, Kabugo was given more votes than the voters who were present at that station which he says is against the law and explains that according to what he got from the election results he was leading Kabugo by more than 9,000 votes and states that he wants his victory which was denied to him to reach court and for the Electoral Commission to defend itself.