MBALE, Uganda — A court here on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a vote recount for the Bungokho North parliamentary race, effectively confirming Shafiga Wanyenya as the duly elected member of parliament.
The Chief Magistrate’s Court faulted the petitioner for relying on uncertified photocopies of the Declaration of Results.
The petition had been filed by John Faith Magolo, the incumbent legislator who contested as an independent and challenged Wanyenya’s victory, citing alleged irregularities. Delivering her ruling, Mbale Chief Magistrate Susan Awidi cited two key grounds for the dismissal.
First, she faulted Magolo for relying on uncertified photocopies of the Declaration of Results, commonly known as DR forms. She noted that under the Evidence Act, DR forms and tally sheets are classified as public documents and must be presented in court either in their original form or as certified copies.
Secondly, the court cited the expiration of jurisdiction. By law, an application for a vote recount must be concluded within four days of filing.
The magistrate ruled that the court’s jurisdiction over the matter lapsed on January 23, 2026, and had fully expired by January 28, 2026. In theJanuary 15 parliamentary elections, Wanyenya was declared the winner by the Mbale District Returning Officer,Ann Tusingwire, after polling9,844 votes, compared to Magolo’s 5,544.
Speaking shortly after the ruling, Eddie Nangulu, a member of Wanyenya’s legal team, said the petition collapsed because the petitioner failed to present credible evidence beyond hearsay.
ForShafiga Wanyenya, the ruling brings to a close what she described as a long and exhausting legal battle, calling it her “third victory” following the election win and earlier legal hurdles.
