KAMPALA, Uganda — Faridah Nambi, the National Resistance Movement candidate in the Kawempe North by-election, has withdrawn her petition seeking a vote recount.
Nambi had challenged the election results after the National Unity Platform’s candidate, Nalukoola Luyimbazi, was declared the winner.
In a March 25 letter to the Kawempe Chief Magistrate’s Court, her legal representatives, Atwijukire Dennis Advocates, said the petition was withdrawn because the Electoral Commission had gazetted the election results, making the petition irrelevant.
“We have instructions from the applicant to withdraw the above application. The Electoral Commission has already gazetted Mr. Elias Nalukoola, and so the application has been overtaken by events,” the letter stated.
The Electoral Commission on March 24 published the results in the Uganda Gazette, confirming Nalukoola Luyimbazi as the new Kawempe North MP.
David Lewis Rubongoya, the secretary general of NUP, had welcomed Nambi’s petition, saying a recount would not change the results.
“Unless Nambi has somehow performed magic to change the votes, a recount would still result in her losing,” Rubongoya said.
The by-election was held to fill the seat left vacant following the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya on Jan. 9.
With the Electoral Commission’s confirmation of Nalukoola’s victory, the political contest in Kawempe North has ended.
