KAMPALA, Uganda: 09 April 2026— The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a blistering condemnation of President Yoweri Museveni, accusing him of “blatant” unconstitutional interference in the Masaka City Woman MP election dispute.
In a press statement released today, April 9, 2026, the ULS characterized recent remarks by the President as a direct assault on the independence of the judiciary and the Electoral Commission (EC).
The legal body’s outcry follows a series of “triumphant remarks” made by President Museveni during the NRM Leaders’ Retreat in Kyankwanzi on April 8. The comments centered on the contentious legal battle between NRM’s Justine Nameere and NUP’s Rose Nalubowa.
While addressing NRM members, the President admitted to engaging directly with the Electoral Commission and the Uganda Police Force to orchestrate the removal and replacement of key officials—including the Returning Officer and Regional Police Commanders—allegedly at Nameere’s urging.
”These comments are blatantly unconstitutional and render Justine Nameere’s election invalid due to the President’s self-evident interference in the electoral process,” the statement, signed by ULS Vice President Asiimwe Anthony, reads.
Constitutional Violations
The ULS cited two specific articles of the Constitution of Uganda that it believes have been breached:
Article 62: Guarantees that the Electoral Commission shall be independent and not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority, and Article 128 which shrines the independence of the Judiciary, prohibiting any person from interfering with courts or judicial officers.
The Masaka City Woman MP race has been a lightning rod for controversy since early 2026. A court-ordered recount in February saw Nameere declared the winner amidst heated allegations of judicial misconduct. The ULS now argues that the President’s involvement has “undoubtedbly compromised” the integrity of these institutions.
A “Dangerous Precedent”
The Law Society warned that such actions erode public trust and pose an “insidious threat” to constitutional governance. They emphasized that election disputes must be resolved exclusively through established legal channels without “undue influence or public commentary” from the Executive branch.
”The President’s actions in the Masaka Woman MP case have set a dangerous precedent for undermining the rule of law,” the statement signed by ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe concludes. “We demand that the President and all other stakeholders immediately cease such interference and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution.”
The Executive and the NRM Secretariat have yet to issue a formal response to the ULS’s allegations.
