The High Court of Uganda sitting in Hoima has issued an interim injunction stopping Kagadi District Local Government from conducting a fresh election or re-run for the office of Speaker of Kagadi District Council pending the hearing and determination of a substantive application before court.
The ruling was delivered on June 8, 2026, by the Assistant Registrar of the High Court in Miscellaneous Application No. 037 of 2026, filed by Magezi Jamada Francis against Kagadi District Local Government.
According to court records, Magezi contested for the position of Speaker of Kagadi District Council against Ssemuga Vincent before an electoral college comprising 65 councillors.
During the election, Magezi obtained 32 votes while Ssemuga secured 28 votes.
However, five ballot papers were declared invalid by the presiding officer, leading to the failure of either candidate to attain the required majority and prompting plans for a re-run election scheduled for June 11, 2026.
Magezi challenged the outcome, arguing that two of the invalidated ballots were intended for him and that their rejection unfairly denied him victory.
He subsequently filed judicial review proceedings and sought a temporary injunction to stop the re-run election.
In his application, Magezi requested the court to preserve the status quo until the substantive case is heard and determined.
While considering the application, the court noted that the purpose of an interim injunction is not to determine the merits of the case but to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and prevent the case from being overtaken by events.
The court observed that allowing the re-run election to proceed before hearing the substantive application would result in the election and installation of a Speaker, thereby rendering the pending legal challenge meaningless.
Although Kagadi District Local Government opposed the application and raised concerns that halting the re-run could affect the timely constitution of the council, the court held that such arguments would be addressed during the hearing of the substantive application.
Consequently, the court issued an interim injunction restraining Kagadi District Local Government, its agents, servants, and workers from conducting a fresh election or re-run for the office of Speaker or transacting any business relating to the office until the substantive application for a temporary injunction is heard and determined.
The substantive application is scheduled to be heard on June 16, 2026, while the costs of the application will be determined at the conclusion of the main matter.
The ruling effectively puts on hold the planned June 11 Speaker re-run election and leaves the position vacant pending the court’s final decision.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
