MBARARA– High Court seating in Mbarara has dismissed an application challenging Democratic Party’s (DP) actions of holding their Delegations Conference in Mbarara.
Justice Allan Paul M. Nshimye on dismissing this application, pointed out several irregularities like failing to first address the matter internally within the party, failure meet the Court’s timeline as well as their failure to prove that they are true members of the party
“The burden of proof lies with the person who makes an allegation.” In simple terms, the applicants had to back up their claims with solid evidence, but they fell short in several ways.”
It was the judge’s findings that, grounds like; Challenges to 2020 constitutional changes and March 2025 electoral guidelines, were filed way too late (up to five years overdue). Worse, the applicants didn’t attach key documents, such as the party’s constitution or 2020 conference resolutions, to prove their points.
“This is a fundamental error,” the Nshimye said, calling the application an “abuse of court process.” He noted elections are “segmented” into stages, so old decisions can’t be bundled into a fresh complaint without fresh evidence.
The Application was filed in July 2025 by Edith Byanyima (a parliamentary hopeful for Mbarara City South), Julius Dumba, and Henry Lameck Kasozi on behalf of other Unhappy members,The lawsuit was filed in July 2025 by Edith Byanyima (a parliamentary hopeful for Mbarara City South), Julius Dumba, and Henry Lameck Kasozi, representing a group of aggrieved DP who were not satisfied with the manner in which party handled its national conference in Mbarara on May 29-30, 2025.
Their key complaints included: High nomination fees that excluded ordinary members; electoral guidelines issued by party officials that ignored the constitution; unfair delegate selection and voting processes and illegal amendments from a 2020 conference in Gulu that restricted members’ rights to go to court, forcing them into mandatory internal dispute mechanisms.
They sought court orders to declare the elections void, block the Electoral Commission (EC) from recognizing the results, and quash the controversial amendments. Backed by affidavits from 19 Party members including Hon. Dr. Michael Lulume Bayigga and Richard Kizito Lumu.
