The Supreme Court has formally dismissed Presidential Election Petition No. 1 of 2026 after former presidential candidate Robert Kasibante withdrew his legal challenge against the re-election of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, 26th February 2026, at the Supreme Court in Kampala, brought an early end to proceedings that had sought to nullify the outcome of the 15th January, 2026 presidential election, paving the way for President-elect Museveni to be sworn in this May for his seventh elective five-year term; a tenure that will extend his rule to 45 years by 2031.
Kasibante, who contested under the National Peasants Party (NPP), had petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the validity of President Museveni’s victory. He named President Museveni, the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General as respondents.
However, on 6th February, 2026, Kasibante instructed his legal team to file a Notice of Motion seeking leave of court to withdraw both his main petition and a related Miscellaneous Application No. 1 of 2026.
The application had requested a comprehensive forensic audit of election materials and systems used during the polls.
In his application to withdraw the petition, Kasibante cited the prohibitive financial burden of continuing with the case, informing the court that a comprehensive nationwide forensic audit covering biometric voter verification data, electoral servers, electronic transmission systems, scanners, and declaration forms would cost an estimated UGX 18.5 billion.
The court granted the withdrawal application, effectively dismissing the petition before the substantive hearing could commence.
In his original filings, Kasibante alleged that the Electoral Commission declared presidential results in violation of electoral laws.
He questioned the credibility of the voters’ register, the deployment and reliability of biometric voter verification kits, and the transparency of the tallying and results declaration processes.
The petition also raised claims of electoral malpractice, including bribery, corruption, and voting at more than 15,000 allegedly non-gazetted polling stations.
Through his lead counsel, Julius Galisonga, Kasibante had sought court orders compelling the Electoral Commission to provide access to detailed data on the transmission of presidential election results.
The miscellaneous application specifically requested access to declaration forms, biometric voter verification records, scanners, and electronic transmission servers used during the election.
Kasibante was represented by a legal team led by Julius Galisonga, while President Museveni’s defence was handled by senior counsel Edwin Karugire alongside Usaama Sebuufu, Esau Isingoma, and Cara Kyasimire of K&K Advocates.
The Electoral Commission and the Attorney General were represented by the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka.
With the withdrawal granted and the petition dismissed, the Supreme Court’s decision brings a definitive end to the only legal challenge filed against the January 15, 2026 presidential election results, leaving President Museveni’s re-election standing and formally closing the 2026 electoral dispute process.
