Former Bukomansimbi District Woman MP Veronica Nanyondo has ruled out appealing the dismissal of her election petition against National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Ruth Katushabe, saying she has lost confidence in obtaining justice through the country's appellate courts.
Instead, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate has urged her supporters to remain peaceful and prepare for another electoral contest in five years, which she described as a relatively short period.
Nanyondo made the remarks during a press conference following a ruling by Masaka High Court Judge Rosette Kania, who dismissed her petition challenging Katushabe's election as Bukomansimbi District Woman MP.
She expressed disappointment with the judgment, maintaining that the evidence she presented should have been sufficient to persuade the court to order a recount of the votes.
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Nanyondo said her decision not to pursue an appeal followed what she described as repeated disappointments in the judicial process, first at the Magistrates Court and subsequently at the High Court.
"We went to the Magistrates Court to ask for a recount after presenting all the evidence that was sufficient to convince the court to order a recount, but our application was dismissed. We then went to the High Court, hoping that we would get justice, but that did not happen," Nanyondo said.
She also questioned the High Court's decision to uphold Katushabe's victory, arguing that her political rival had not presented sufficient evidence to defend the election outcome.
"They ruled in favour of Katushabe, who, in my view, failed to present evidence before court to defend her victory. I want to inform my supporters in Bukomansimbi and the entire country that I am not going to waste my time pursuing another appeal," she said.
Despite abandoning the legal challenge, Nanyondo said she would remain available to serve and support residents of the district.
She emphasised that she remained a resident of Kagando Village and that her home would continue to be accessible to people seeking her assistance.
"Five years is a very short time, and I want to assure my people that I will always be there for them. I am a resident of Kagando Village, and my door will always remain open to anyone who needs my support," she said.
The former legislator also appealed to her supporters to avoid violence and confrontation following the court's decision, urging residents to remain united despite their political differences.
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Her remarks came amid dissatisfaction among some Bukomansimbi residents who questioned how the election petition had been handled and expressed disappointment with the outcome.
Nanyondo had challenged Katushabe's victory over alleged electoral irregularities, including claims that signatures belonging to her polling agents had been forged on seven Declaration of Results (DR) forms.
However, Justice Kania dismissed the petition, finding that Nanyondo had failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations and demonstrate grounds for overturning the election result.
Katushabe was declared winner with 23,481 votes against Nanyondo's 23,275, giving her a margin of 206 votes.
With Nanyondo ruling out an appeal, Katushabe retains the Bukomansimbi District Woman MP seat, bringing the legal challenge against her election to an end.
