The hearing of an electoral petition against the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate for the Lwemiyaga County seat, Brigadier General (Rtd) Emmanuel Rwashande, has kicked off at the High Court.
In December, Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo petitioned the court, challenging Rwashande’s nomination and academic qualifications after the Electoral Commission dismissed his earlier complaint.
Ssekikubo is contesting the validity of three supporters Rwashande used for his nomination on October 22. One of the disputed credentials allegedly belongs to a female voter registered in another district.
According to the Electoral Commission, Brig. Gen. Rwashande holds a Diploma in Defence and Strategic Studies from the National University of the People’s Liberation Army (2007), a Certificate in the Company Commanders Course, and a Diploma from the Senior Army Command Course at Nanjing Army Command College. All these qualifications were equated by the National Council for Higher Education.
Rwashande defeated Ssekikubo to become the NRM flag bearer for the hotly contested Lwemiyaga County seat. Official results indicate that Rwashande garnered 16,358 votes, while Ssekikubo received 8,702 votes. Other candidates included Joy Kabatsi, who polled 473 votes, and Jacob Kato, who received 11 votes.
However, Ssekikubo rejected the results, alleging widespread intimidation, assault, and abduction of his supporters during the voting process.
The two rivals had been at loggerheads throughout the campaign period, with Ssekikubo previously accusing Rwashande of lacking the minimum academic qualifications required for nomination.
In a dramatic escalation, Ssekikubo petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, requesting armed protection following a violent incident at a rally held on June 26, 2025, in Kirega, Kampala Parish, Lwemiyaga.
During the rally, unknown assailants reportedly opened fire, killing his supporter, Sembusi Alex, and injuring Ssekikubo and another supporter, Moses Titangana.
