KITGUM — State Minister for Water and Environment Beatrice Atim Anywar has lost her legal battle against Denis Onekalit Amere, with the High Court in Kitgum upholding his election as the municipality’s Member of Parliament.
Justice Amos Kwizera dismissed Anywar’s election petition on Monday, November 9, 2026, ruling that she had failed to prove allegations of electoral malpractice against Amere and election officials.
The petition was dismissed with costs, leaving Amere’s January election victory intact.
Amere, who contested on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket, garnered 6,176 votes in the January 15 polls, defeating Anywar, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, who obtained 5,013 votes.
Following her defeat, Anywar petitioned the court, challenging the credibility of the election and seeking to have Amere’s victory overturned.
She alleged voter bribery, intimidation, violence and harassment of her polling agents and supporters. She also accused Amere’s agents of working with election officials to manipulate the electoral process.
A central part of her complaint concerned the non-use of biometric voter verification kits, which she claimed enabled multiple voting, ballot stuffing and voting by unauthorised persons.
The minister also accused the Electoral Commission and Kitgum District Returning Officer Betty Atim Owot of negligence, incompetence and bad faith.
However, the court found that the allegations had not been supported by evidence sufficient to invalidate the election.
In his ruling, Justice Kwizera said Anywar had failed to prove that the alleged violence and intimidation constituted 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 case had earlier encountered setbacks, including the dismissal in September of Anywar’s application seeking access to 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 proceedings subsequently relied 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.
Her legal team comprised Cumberland Advocates and Bashasha & Company Advocates. Amere was represented by Asuman Basalirwa & Company Advocates and Barirere & Company Advocates, while the Electoral Commission and returning officer were represented by ALP Advocates.
The judgment was electronically transmitted to the parties’ advocates under the Judicature (Electronic Filing, Service and Virtual Proceedings) Rules, 2025.
The decision confirms Amere’s position as Kitgum Municipality MP and ends Anywar’s challenge before the High Court.
