Judge Gives 10 days to Deliver Verdict on Bwowe Petition to Denominate Senyonyi in Nakawa West

The Leader of the Opposition and Nakawa Division West Member of Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, will know within the next two weeks whether he will appear on the ballot in the January 15, 2026 general election.

This follows directives issued by High Court Civil Division Judge Collins Acellam after hearing oral submissions in a pre-election appeal filed by Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF) candidate Ivan Bwowe.

Bwowe is challenging Senyonyi’s nomination including that of seven other parliamentary candidates for Nakawa west.

Bwowe petitioned the High Court on December 18, 2025, challenging a decision of the Electoral Commission that upheld the nomination of eight candidates for the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat.

The appeal arises from the Electoral Commission’s dismissal of Bwowe’s complaint. Bwowe had argued that the Commission erred in law by upholding nominations allegedly conducted under “Nakawa West,” which he contends is a non-existent constituency not gazetted under Uganda’s electoral laws. he argues that the legally gazetted constituency is Nakawa Division West..

On Tuesday, Judge Acellam directed Bwowe to file his written submissions by December 26, 2025, while the respondents are expected to submit theirs by December 29. The respondents include Joel Ssenyonyi, Herbert Anderson Burora, Happy Nasasira, Felix Ephraim Okuye, Vincent Norbert Okumu, Wilberforce Kyambadde and Miles Rwamiti Apuuli.

The judge said once the timelines are complied with, he will be in position to deliver a ruling within four to five days.