The High Court in Masaka has set October 5, 2026, to begin hearing an election petition filed by former Bukomansimbi North parliamentary candidate Hajji Muhammad Kateregga, challenging the election of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Salim Kiseka.
The petition pits Kateregga against Kiseka, with both sides maintaining that their respective claims are backed by sufficient evidence.
Kateregga welcomed the court's decision to admit his petition for hearing, saying he had been waiting for an opportunity to present evidence that he believes will prove he was the rightful winner of the Bukomansimbi North parliamentary election.
"I am happy that the court accepted my petition and gave us a date for hearing. I have been waiting for this day so that I can present my evidence before court and allow the court to determine the rightful representative of the people of Bukomansimbi North," Kateregga said.
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Kateregga further claimed that Kiseka had not yet presented evidence to substantiate allegations that he and his agents were responsible for acts including assaulting his agents and destroying their property, including vehicles.
He said what he described as Kiseka's failure to provide evidence had strengthened his confidence that the petition could succeed.
"I have realised that, up to now, Salim Kiseka has not yet filed his evidence that he did not engage in assaults that also led to the destruction of my vehicle and the beating of my agents and voters. These allegations have not been supported by evidence before court. This has given me more confidence, happiness and hope that the court will eventually declare me the rightful MP for Bukomansimbi North," Kateregga said.
However, Kiseka, the respondent in the petition, gave a different account of what transpired when the matter came before court.
According to Kiseka, Kateregga asked the court for more time to look for additional evidence because he had not presented sufficient evidence when the matter first came up for hearing.
He said the court subsequently set October 5, 2026, for the substantive hearing of the petition to commence.
Kiseka dismissed Kateregga's expectation of being declared the rightful MP, urging him instead to accept the election outcome.
"As far as declaring himself the MP for Bukomansimbi North is concerned, he should accept that he lost the election," Kiseka said.
Kiseka also alleged that Kateregga's decision to challenge the election results in court was not primarily aimed at reclaiming victory, but at increasing his following on social media platforms.
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"He did not bring me to court because he wanted to claim victory. He came to court because he wanted to increase the number of people following him on social media platforms," Kiseka alleged.
Despite their opposing positions, Kiseka said he remained confident in the judicial process and expressed faith in the competence of the judge handling the matter.
"I am confident that the judge handling our case is competent and will deliver justice in this matter," Kiseka said.
The Bukomansimbi North election petition will return before the Masaka High Court on October 5, 2026, when the court is expected to commence hearing the substantive issues raised by Kateregga.
