MENGO COURT DRAMA: NUP'S MUMIRANSANAFU CHALLENGES NRM'S KABUGO OVER LCV SEAT
Political temperatures in Lubaga Division are rising again after NUP Councilor Julius Katongole alias Mumiransanafu petitioned Mengo Court seeking to overturn the election of NRM's Bonny Kabugo as LCV Councilor for Lubaga III.
Katongole, who is popularly known as Mumiransanafu in the ghettos of Najjanankumbi and Nateete, contested to represent Lubaga III which covers Najjanankumbi, Nateete, Lubaga and Mutundwe. He lost narrowly on paper but insists he was rigged out.
FACE-OFF BEFORE MAGISTRATE KWESIGA
The matter came up for hearing at Mwanga II Magistrate's Court in Mengo before Magistrate Joseph Kwesiga, where both camps clashed in a tense session.
Katongole is represented by seasoned lawyer and former Buvuma MP, Counsel Jude Mbabaali, while Kabugo is represented by Counsel Micheal Kintu.
In a joint submission, lawyers from both sides requested court to allow them file all their documentary evidence, affidavits and joint trial bundles in written form to expedite the hearing.
Magistrate Kwesiga granted the request and adjourned the matter to October 15, 2026 for further mention and fixing of a hearing date.
At the heart of the petition is Katongole's claim that he won by a landslide.
According to Katongole, declaration of results forms (DR Forms) in his possession from various polling stations show he beat Kabugo by more than 9,000 votes.
"I won with over 9,000 votes against Kabugo. But the Electoral Commission rigged me out and declared a loser. I will not accept it. I want my victory back," Katongole told reporters outside court.
He wants court to either order a vote recount or nullify Kabugo's victory and declare him the rightful winner.
He has accused the Electoral Commission of conniving with his rival to steal his victory.
On his part, Bonny Kabugo, who was declared winner on the NRM ticket, says the NUP is trying to grab his seat through the back door.
"The people of Lubaga III trusted me and sent me to serve them. NUP wants to snatch my seat but court will vindicate me," Kabugo said, thanking his lawyer Micheal Kintu for working tirelessly to keep him in office.
Kabugo further claims Katongole's initial petition was defective and illegally filed, and he intends to ask court to order Katongole to pay costs for the time and money he has lost.
But Katongole dismisses Kabugo's claims as hot air and mere diversionary tactics, accusing him of failing to interpret simple court documents.
All eyes are now on October 15th, when the court will set the ground rules for what promises to be one of the most hotly contested LCV petitions in Kampala.
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