The High Court of Uganda in Hoima has adjourned the Hoima City Woman Member of Parliament (MP) election petition hearing to next week Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The adjournment followed a two-day hearing of a petition filed by Princess Dianah Rouse Jane Mugenyi Abwooli of NRM, who is seeking the Court to nullify the victory of Nyakato Asinansi Kamanda Adyeeri, a PFF candidate.

The High Court started hearing the case with cross examining both parties from Thursday, October 1, 2026 to Friday, October.

However, on the second day of hearing, the matter was adjourned after receiving a request for adjournment from the petitioner’s lawyers, who said they were fatigued and unable to continue with the cross-examination of the respondent, Nyakato Asinansi and her other witness.

Counsel Hamphry Tumwesige, defence lawyer for Princess Dianah Rouse Jane Mugenyi, said that they had been sitting in court for over twelve hours, a situation which got them fatigued.

“Being granted an adjournment will help us create more fresh questions to fully cross-examine Hon Nyakato Asinansi and her other witness,whom we were unable to cross-examine because of time,” Tumwesige said.

Tumwesige, however, noted fairness by the court during the hearing sessions.

Counsel Medard Ssegona, representing Asinansi, said they were ready for any cross-examining [questions] despite the adjournment.

Princess Dianah Rouse noted the importance of the adjournment, saying it is a part of healthy requirements.

Nyakato noted that she was still ready to respond to any questions despite the adjournment.

On the first day, the court heard from the petitioner’s side, and on Friday it commenced with the Electoral Commission (EC), thus making it hard to continue cross-examining Nyakato since it was late.

The case is before Justice Charles Kasibayo, the Resident Judge of Mbale Circuit.

Why are both parties in court?

Princess Dianah Rouse Jane Mugenyi Abwooli filed a petition with the Hoima High Court in May 2026, seeking nullification of the election of Hoima City Woman Member of Parliament Nyakato Asinansi.

She is citing alleged electoral irregularities in the recent January 15, 2026, parliamentary elections.

Mugenyi cited bribery and voter manipulation on January 15, 2026.

Mugenyi, the NRM candidate, lost to Nyakato, who crossed from Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF).

Following the January 15 elections, the Electoral Commission declared Nyakato a winner with 17,142 votes against Mugenyi’s 15,197 votes.

Other contestants included Bridget Kiiza of the National Unity Platform, who got 1,362 votes, and independent candidate Nalumaga Sylvia Balyesiima with 1,009 votes. The results were gazetted on February 6, 2026.

The petition alleges widespread irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.

At Sir Tito Winyi Stadium polling station, only 194 ballot papers were issued for 525 registered voters. At St. Mary’s Primary School, 341 people reportedly voted, but only 173 ballot papers were counted.

At Hoima Boma polling station, only 118 ballot papers were issued despite 471 registered voters, allegedly disenfranchising 353 voters. Mugenyi also cited inconsistencies in the declaration of results forms.

At Hoima Rotary polling station, the results form was unsigned, while at Kitara Secondary School Lower, the form lacked details on valid, invalid, and rejected votes.

She claims that the final results were declared based on doubtful entries. Allegations of ballot stuffing were reported. At Mparo Gasani polling station, 350 ballot papers were counted despite only 146 voters casting ballots.

At Kasasa Catholic Church, the number of votes allegedly exceeded the number of voters.

The petitioner further accuses Nyakato and her agents of bribing voters.

On January 6, 2026, Nyakato allegedly gave shs500,000 to elderly voters in Ruyanja Cell, Kibingo Ward, while on January 14, her agent distributed cash at Budaka Primary School and provided money, alcohol, and kombucha drinks to voters at Kikwatamigo Trading Centre, she noted.

Mugenyi also claimed that Nyakato illegally transferred voters from Kikuube district to Hoima City using their national identity details.

According to Mugenyi, these actions amounted to illegal procurement of voters and subjugation of the electorate, violating electoral laws.

She argued that the alleged irregularities of bribery, ballot stuffing, and voter manipulation affected the results by a margin of just 1,945 votes.

The petitioner seeks the court to declare the election in violation of the Parliamentary Elections Act, and order a fresh election.