KITGUM — Denis Onekalit Amere will remain Member of Parliament for Kitgum Municipality after the High Court dismissed an election petition filed by State Minister for Water and Environment Beatrice Atim Anywar.
Justice Amos Kwizera, in a judgment delivered on Monday, November 9, 2026, ruled that Anywar had failed to prove the electoral offences and irregularities she relied on to challenge Amere’s victory in the January 15 polls.
The petition was dismissed with costs, bringing Anywar’s challenge to an end at the High Court.
Amere, who contested on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket, won the election with 6,176 votes, beating Anywar, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, who obtained 5,013 votes.
Anywar had gone to court seeking to overturn the results, alleging that the election was marred by voter bribery, intimidation, violence and harassment of her polling agents and supporters.
She also accused Amere’s agents and election officials of colluding to influence the outcome. Another major complaint concerned the non-use of biometric voter verification kits, which she claimed opened the door to multiple voting, ballot stuffing and participation by unauthorised voters.
The minister further faulted the Electoral Commission and Kitgum District Returning Officer Betty Atim Owot, accusing them of negligence, incompetence and bad faith.
But the court found that the allegations had not been backed by sufficient evidence to justify overturning the election.
Justice Kwizera ruled that Anywar had failed to establish that the alleged violence and intimidation were offences attributable to Amere under Section 80(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
“No single electoral offence or malpractice as alleged by the petitioner has been proved to the required standard,” the judge stated.
The proceedings had earlier been affected by several setbacks. In September, the court rejected Anywar’s application seeking production of the voters’ register for inspection.
The planned cross-examination of witnesses was also abandoned after three of her lawyers were involved in a road accident while travelling to Kitgum. The case thereafter proceeded largely on affidavits and written submissions.
Anywar previously represented the area twice on the FDC ticket before crossing to the ruling NRM party. She has served as State Minister for Environment since 2019.
Amere was represented by Asuman Basalirwa & Company Advocates and Barirere & Company Advocates. Anywar’s legal team comprised Cumberland Advocates and Bashasha & Company Advocates, while the Electoral Commission and returning officer were represented by ALP Advocates.
The judgment was electronically transmitted to the parties’ lawyers under the Judicature (Electronic Filing, Service and Virtual Proceedings) Rules, 2025.
The ruling preserves Amere’s parliamentary victory and leaves Anywar with a legal defeat in her attempt to reclaim the Kitgum Municipality seat.
