LUWEERO .
Katikamu North Constituency parliamentary aspirant risks being disqualified from he race Ronald Ndawula for National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag over an earlier case of bankruptcy .
According to a petition, filed by Joseph Kiyingi Sentumbwe a NRM supporter in Katikamu Mr Ndawula , also the former Luweero District chairperson remains an undischarged bankrupt, and is therefore constitutionally barred from contesting for Parliament –where the NRM primaries are slated for July 17 .
The NRM Electoral Commission officially received the petition on Monday, June 30.
“Ndawula was declared bankrupt by the High Court in 2020, a ruling that was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2024. He remains an undischarged bankrupt, and according to the Constitution and Parliamentary Elections Act, he is not eligible to run for MP,” Sentumbwe stated in his complaint.
Citing Article 80(2)(d) of the Constitution and Section 4(2)(d) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Sentumbwe argues that the NRM EC erred in clearing Ndawula to vie for the parliamentary seat . He submitted the petition with 52 signatures from registered NRM voters in Katikamu North.
“We must follow the rule of law. Even though Ndawula is my friend, the law must be respected,” Sentumbwe said. “How can we tell the youth to be future leaders when we ourselves disregard the law?”
But his quick response Mr Ndawula has dismissing the petition saying it is baseless and politically motivated by what the described as failed opponents.
He explained that the said bankruptcy case was nullified by a court ruling and accuses his opponents of weaponizing the judiciary for political gain.
“That matter was long resolved. The bankruptcy was set aside and I am now a free man,” Ndawula told Journalists in Luweero Town . “These people manipulated court, but the court saw through it and dismissed their lies.”
Ndawula’s position is backed by a High Court ruling delivered on October 30, 2024, by Justice Stephen Mubiru, who set aside the original bankruptcy order. The Judge found that the case filed by Hiraa Traders (U) Ltd , the company behind the 2020 petition had stalled for nearly four years. The company had been struck off the register and had failed to pursue the matter, which the Judge said pointed to abuse of court process.
“The bankruptcy order cannot remain in abeyance pending the speculative restoration of the company,” ruled Justice Mubiru. “The proceedings have stalled and appear to have been used for political manipulation rather than genuine debt recovery.”
He further described the case as a “warehoused claim” that undermined justice, and emphasized that such misuse of insolvency law could not be allowed to stand.