MASAKA. Masaka in court has ordered a vote recount in Kalungu West Constituency.
This followed an application by Ismael Ssemakula, an independent candidate who was competing against MP Joseph Ssewungu , complaining that the vote counting and tallying done by Kalungu District returning officer Teddy Nabukenya was marred by irregularities which denied him victory.
Ssemakula sued Ms Nabukenya, the Electoral Commission and Mr Ssewungu accusing them of conniving to rob him of his victory.
Mr Ssemakula , a real estate dealer and lawyer , who is a newcomer in the area politics, polled 10,060 votes while Mr Ssewungu garnered 10,106 votes , indicating a margin of 46 votes. Ruling National Resistance Movement flag bearer Twaha Kiganda Ssoko came in the third position with 2, 211 votes followed by Democratic Front(DF) ’s Michael Birimuye Matovu who collected 555 votes while Democratic Party’s James Balikuddembe got 137 votes .
Court presided over by Masaka Chief Magistrate Herbert Asiimwe on Wednesday, heard that the tallying exercise was full of gross irregularities since the respondents connived to alter results on declaration forms among other irregularities.
Through his lawyers led by Ambrose Tebyasa told court that though the law permits the returning officer to conduct a recount incase the candidates votes tie and when the winning margin is below 50 votes the returning officer declined to grant them the recount, they’re by abdicating her duties which prompted them to run to court to seek for a vote recount.
Tebyasa told the court that they needed the court to order for a recount of all polling stations since they doubted the results announced by Ms Nabukenya since they were not even given a tally results sheet.
“The failure by the returning officer to conduct a mandatory recount at the stage at which we asked for it is a basis for this court to grant a recount for our client to ascertain that he was won fairly or not.” He added.
Earlier, the court had decided on an objection raised by Ssewungu’s lawyers led by Caleb Alaka who had raised concern on the jurisdiction of Masaka Chief Magistrate to handle the petition.
Mr Alaka argued that a court in Masaka lacked territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate on matters that happened in Kalungu District claiming that the petition would have been taken to Kalungu Court other than Masaka.
However, Tebyasa told the court that since Kalungu does not have an operational chief magistrates court there was no way they could take their petition to a non- existing court.
The presiding magistrate Asiimwe agreed with Tebyasa the petitioners lead counsel that the Kalungu does not have a functional chief magistrates court .
In his ruling the magistrate concurred with the petitioner and ordered a count on Friday ,January 23 ,2026 at 10am .
“…. therefore the circumstances surrounding the case makes it favourable for a vote recount so that the winner is declared without any ill will so that the applicant gets to know what he got . I hereby direct that a vote recount be conducted,” he said
Due to fear to rob them their victories , Semakula and other two parliamentary winners in the district – State Minister for Water Aisha Sekindi (winner of district woman MP seat) and Yusuf Kiruluuta Nkeretaanyi (winner Kalungu East ) have since last Thursday night been camping camp at EC tally centre in Kalungu Town Council.