By Spy Uganda
The High Court in Rukungiri has officially allowed the withdrawal of an election petition challenging the victory of Rujumbura County Member of Parliament, Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi, bringing to an end a legal contest over the January 2026 parliamentary election.
In an order issued on July 7, 2026, Justice Susan Kanyange granted Fred Turyamuhweza Tumuheirwe leave to withdraw Election Petition No. 005 of 2026, which had sought to challenge Muhwezi’s election. The petition had been filed under the Parliamentary Elections Act following the January 15, 2026 parliamentary polls in Rujumbura County, Rukungiri District. The court further ordered that costs be awarded to the Electoral Commission, the second respondent in the matter.
Court records indicate that the application for withdrawal was filed as Miscellaneous Application No. 007 of 2026, arising from Election Petition No. 005 of 2026. The case was listed as Fred Turyamuhweza Tumuheirwe versus Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi and the Electoral Commission. During the hearing, counsel for the respondents was present, while both the applicant and his legal representatives were absent when the matter came up for final disposal.
The withdrawal effectively ends the legal challenge that had been lodged on April 1, 2026, nearly three months after the election. Justice Kanyange’s order formally brings the petition to a close, leaving Muhwezi’s victory intact.
According to the official election results, Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi was declared the winner after securing 25,007 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Fred Turyamuhweza Tumuheirwe, who garnered 23,307 votes—a margin of 1,700 votes.
The court’s decision means there is no longer any pending legal challenge against Muhwezi’s election, cementing his mandate as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County.
