By Spy Uganda
Masaka Chief Magistrate Albert Asiimwe has officially declared Justine Nameere of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as the duly elected Woman Member of Parliament for Masaka City following the completion of a court-ordered vote recount.
According to a certificate issued after the exercise at the Masaka City Electoral Commission offices, Nameere secured 25,502 votes, the highest among the four candidates. Her closest challenger, Rose Nalubowa of the National Unity Platform (NUP), polled 23,176 votes. Juliet Nakabuye Kakande of the Democratic Front (DF) received 6,136 votes, while independent candidate Nanyonga Sauya garnered 5,921 votes.
The three-day recount arose from an application filed by Nameere through her lawyers in the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Masaka. Initially, Nameere had sought a recount at 11 polling stations, arguing that votes cast in her favour had not been properly tallied. However, Magistrate Asiimwe ruled that, in the interest of transparency and justice, the recount should cover all 314 polling stations across Masaka City.
During the hearing, Nalubowa’s lawyer, Sam Muyizzi, objected to the application, contending that it had been filed outside the legally prescribed timeframe.
“This application was filed after seven days, which is contrary to the law,” Muyizzi argued. “We pray that this matter should not proceed further and that it be dismissed with costs, as it was brought out of time.”
Magistrate Asiimwe dismissed the objection and allowed the recount to proceed, warning that the process would only continue if the integrity of the ballot boxes was intact.
“I will not proceed with the recount if I find that any ballot box has been tampered with,” he cautioned.
Following the ruling, the court relocated to the Masaka City Electoral Commission offices, where Magistrate Asiimwe personally presided over the verification of ballot boxes before the recount commenced.
The decision sparked protests from Nalubowa, who described the process as unlawful and inconsistent with the court’s earlier guidance. She accused the magistrate of contradicting his own directive and announced her withdrawal from the recount.
“The magistrate was very clear that if a tampered ballot box was found, the recount would stop,” Nalubowa said. “Why then does the process continue? This is unjust and does not follow the law. I cannot be part of this.”
Nalubowa subsequently walked out of the Electoral Commission offices as the recount proceeded in her absence.
In the certificate signed by Chief Magistrate Asiimwe, the court formally returned Nameere as the winner of the Masaka City Woman MP seat, overturning an earlier declaration that had awarded victory to the opposition NUP candidate.
The ruling brings legal closure to the electoral dispute and clears the way for Nameere to assume office as Masaka City’s Woman Member of Parliament.
