The Masaka Grade One Magistrate’s Court has acquitted Alice Nannungi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) Councillor for Nyendo Ward, who had been accused of conspiring with the council clerk to forge official council meeting minutes.
While delivering the verdict on Thursday, Magistrate Abdullah Kayiza stated that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that Nannungi colluded with either the speaker or the council clerk.
“The prosecution’s evidence was not satisfactory. Furthermore, Nannungi’s name does not appear in the alleged forged minutes of May 26, 2024; she neither attended nor voted nor signed the document. I therefore find no evidence linking her to any conspiracy to commit a felony. Accordingly, I acquit Alice Nannungi of this charge,” Magistrate Kayiza ruled.
However, Nanungi’s co-accused, Steven Luwanga, was found to have a case to answer on charges of forgery and uttering false documents. The court has directed him to appear on July 3, 2025, to defend himself against the allegations.
Speaking to the media after the ruling, Nanungi described the case as politically motivated, accusing NUP mayor Namayanja Florence and other party leaders in Masaka of orchestrating the charges to push her out of politics.
“I thank the court and my supporters for standing by me over the last two years. We are relieved that justice has finally been served. With this case behind us, we can now focus on our political goals without fear of legal persecution,” Nannungi said.
Court records show that the charges stemmed from a Masaka City Council meeting held on May 26, 2023, during which several members were elected to the council’s finance and works standing committees. Nannungi was reportedly elected chairperson of the works committee. However, a section of Councillors challenged the decision, arguing that the election of committee members had not been included on the official meeting agenda.
Nannungi is currently campaigning for the Nyendo-Mukungwe Municipality parliamentary seat, aiming to unseat Mathias Mpuuga, the former NUP vice president for Buganda. Mpuuga fell out with the party’s leadership after being accused of accepting a 500 million shilling “service award” during his tenure as Leader of the Opposition.
