The recent nullification of Erias Luyimbazi Nalukoola’s victory as Kawempe North MP has raised more political questions than legal answers, with growing consensus among analysts that his removal was a calculated political statement — a message from the state to the opposition: you may win votes, but you can’t win power.
Nalukoola, who recently clinched the Kawempe North seat by defeating NRM’s Faridah Nambi, saw his victory annulled by High Court Judge Bernard Namanya on grounds of electoral malpractice. The judge cited that over 16,000 voters, including Nambi herself, were disenfranchised, a factor he ruled substantially affected the election outcome.
The court also accused Nalukoola of campaigning on polling day at two polling stations — Mbogo Primary School Playground and Kazo Angola LCI office — in violation of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
While these legal grounds were used to justify the nullification, political observers argue that the court ruling was anything but impartial. “The state invested heavily in Kawempe. Losing to an opposition candidate, particularly from NUP, would have been a significant blow — not just in Parliament but in the broader 2026 political narrative,” one analyst noted.
According to insiders, the ruling was less about legal compliance and more about political control. The message was clear: the opposition can win votes, but the state retains the final say. “Had NUP retained Kawempe, it would have sparked confidence across urban opposition strongholds — potentially leading to a stronger, more energized base ahead of the 2026 elections,” another analyst added.
The removal of Nalukoola, therefore, appears to be a preemptive strike — a strategic show of force aimed at demoralizing the opposition and proving that the state still holds the reins, regardless of the ballot.
While the legal façade was carefully constructed, the political implications are unmistakable: Nalukoola’s ousting wasn’t just a courtroom decision — it was a power move designed to remind Ugandans that in Museveni’s Uganda, the law often serves politics, not justice.
