By Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among is once again at the center of controversy, after three women seeking to challenge her for the Bukedea Woman MP seat in the 2026 elections were dragged to court in what the opposition has branded a fraudulent scheme to have her returned unopposed.
The High Court in Kampala has fixed for hearing a petition filed by Akol Zippora seeking to block Alupo Mercy Marion of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Norma Susan Otai, and Akol Hellen Odeke from nomination on grounds that they are allegedly not registered voters in Bukedea District.
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According to court documents, so-called “parish tribunals” in May 2025 purportedly ordered the removal of the trio from the voters’ roll in Malera, Kopeta, and Kotolut parishes. The applicant now wants the Electoral Commission (EC) stopped from clearing them for nomination in the January 2026 elections.
If successful, the move would leave Anita Among, the incumbent and current Speaker of Parliament, without any challenger replicating her controversial 2021 victory when she sailed through unopposed.
NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, condemned the petition as a “shameless and fraudulent attempt” by Among to eliminate competition.
“Yes, there is an effort to block the three women who are running against Anita Among in Bukedea, including our NUP candidate Alupo Mercy Marion! Effectively, this shameless woman is trying yet again to be unopposed the same thing she did in the last election and during their NRM primaries,” Kyagulanyi said in a statement posted on X.
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He added that his candidate, Alupo Mercy Marion, had never been summoned by any tribunal and only discovered the existence of such proceedings when court papers were served. “The judiciary is on trial to see if they will sanction or perpetrate this ridiculous abuse of authority,” Kyagulanyi warned.
The Electoral Commission, which has already set 23-24th October as the nomination period for parliamentary candidates, is under pressure to clarify its role in the matter. Civil society groups and opposition actors are also watching closely to see if the courts will validate the tribunal decisions or dismiss them as politically motivated.
The case will be heard on Monday, a ruling that could determine whether Bukedea voters will have a real choice at the ballot box—or face yet another uncontested race in favor of Anita Among.
