Jailed National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro has appeared before the High Court in Kampala under heavy security as his petition challenging the election of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Fredrick Ruhindi as Nakawa East Member of Parliament came up for hearing.
Mufumbiro, who has been held at Luzira Prison, was brought to court under prison security as proceedings resumed in the closely watched election dispute arising from Uganda’s January 15, 2026 parliamentary elections.
The NUP official is challenging the Electoral Commission’s declaration of Ruhindi as the winner of the Nakawa East parliamentary seat.
Ruhindi was declared winner after securing 18,555 votes against Mufumbiro’s 15,186, giving the former Attorney General a margin of 3,369 votes.
The election petition is among a number of parliamentary election disputes before the Kampala High Court following the 2026 general elections. The Judiciary said at least 20 election petitions had been scheduled at the Kampala High Court, with the cases distributed among several judges.
Mufumbiro’s petition delayed by detention
Mufumbiro’s continued detention has already complicated the progress of his election petition.
During an earlier pre-trial session, the High Court noted that Mufumbiro had not been produced from Luzira despite a production warrant having been issued. The matter was consequently adjourned, with court directing that he be produced at a subsequent sitting.
His appearance under prison guard now allows him to personally participate in the proceedings challenging the outcome of the election he contested while incarcerated.
Mufumbiro was nominated for the Nakawa East seat while in prison after being arrested and remanded during the election period. His nomination papers were presented to the Electoral Commission by former Nakawa East MP Ronald Balimwezo and Mufumbiro’s late wife, Edith Katende Mufumbiro.
Ruhindi stages political comeback
Ruhindi’s victory marked a return to Parliament for the veteran politician, who had previously represented the wider Nakawa constituency before it was divided into Nakawa East and Nakawa West.
He previously served as Attorney General and had lost his parliamentary seat in the 2016 election. He subsequently returned to electoral politics in the 2026 race.
The Nakawa East contest attracted several candidates, with Mufumbiro running on the NUP ticket against Ruhindi and other contenders.
The constituency had previously been represented by NUP’s Ronald Balimwezo, who left the parliamentary race to contest for Kampala Lord Mayor. NUP subsequently backed Mufumbiro as its candidate.
Detention follows Mufumbiro through election
Mufumbiro’s legal troubles have run alongside his political career throughout the election cycle.
He was arrested in September 2025 and subsequently faced criminal charges, including allegations relating to incitement and unlawful activities. He remained incarcerated through the nomination and election period, meaning he had to conduct his parliamentary campaign from prison through relatives, party officials and supporters.
In February 2026, the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court dismissed one of the incitement cases against him after finding that the charge sheet did not specify the exact location where the alleged offence occurred. However, Mufumbiro remained in custody over other pending charges before another court.
His attempts to secure release have also been unsuccessful. In June 2026, the Kawempe-Kanyanya Chief Magistrate’s Court denied his application for mandatory bail, despite finding that he had crossed the constitutional threshold for consideration of mandatory bail.
The detention has also had major personal consequences. In April, Mufumbiro sought temporary release to attend the burial of his wife, Edith Katende Mufumbiro, who had died after a prolonged illness.
Election dispute now before High Court
The Nakawa East petition is now part of the broader legal contest over the results of the 2026 parliamentary elections.
At the September pre-trial proceedings, Mufumbiro’s lawyers indicated that they intended to raise preliminary objections, including issues concerning the admissibility of documentary evidence. Court also directed the parties to prepare brief facts, identify the issues for determination and, where possible, file a joint memorandum.
The substantive proceedings will determine the issues raised by Mufumbiro against the election result and whether the declaration of Ruhindi as Nakawa East MP should stand.
For now, the unusual spectacle of a parliamentary election petitioner being brought from prison under heavy guard has added another dramatic chapter to a Nakawa East contest that began with Mufumbiro campaigning for Parliament from behind bars.
