The Entebbe High Court, has formally closed the hearing of the election petition by late former Busiro South MP Charles Matovu, of the National Unity Platform (NUP), challenging the election National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Kenan Opio as the Busiro South, Member of Parliament, following the death of the former, who was the petitioner.
In an abatement notice of the election petition dated October 28th 2026, the Entebbe court’s Assistant Registrar Rashida Butanula, revealed that the closure of the hearing, was reached under Section 86 of The Parliamentary Elections Act (cap 177) and Rule 20 of Parliamentary Elections (Interim Provisions) Election Petitions) Rules S.I.141-2.
“NOTICE OF ABATEMENT of election petition No.0001 of 2026 for the directly elected Member of Parliament for Busiro County South Constituency in Wakiso District is given following the death of MATOVU CHARLES the sole Petitioner which occurred on 22nd Day of October 2026” she said.
The hearing which was being presided over by Hon. Justice Jamson Karemani, was supposed to issue it’s ruling on the matter on November 20th.
In September, Justice Karemani dismissed Matovu’s application against the Electoral Commission for discovery of election materials, which it used to declare to declare Opio as the Busiro South MP.
Matovu was seeking for the commission to produce the official report book, tamper proof declaration of result forms, accountability of ballot paper forms, presidential elections declaration of Results forms for the Electoral Area of Busiro County South, official report book DR Forms, printout of scanner report, certified DR forms of 102 polling stations in Nkumba Ward, Kisubi Ward and Kitala ward and certified DR forms of 58 polling stations.
Matovu argued that the inspection of the documents would assist the court to come to a proper determination of his original petition against the current MP Opio, and the Electoral commission in which he alleges that there was non-compliance with the electoral laws, which affected the election and prayed that the said election to be set aside.
However Justice dismissed the application, calling it a fishing expedition and outlined several grounds noting that Matovu didn’t specify whether the documents requested for belonged to the whole constituency or for certain parishes or certain polling station which qualified it to be a fishing expedition.
Matovu passed away suddenly following a short illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital last week.
While addressing mourners during Matovu’s requiem Mass, St. Bruno Sserunkuuma Catholic Church Kasenge on Saturday, the deceased’s father Mr Vincent Bukenya, revealed that doctors at Rubaga Hospital who initially treated his son, told him that he was poisoned
“Even satan kills, it’s satan that has killed Matovu, because when he was being treated the first time at Rubaga Hospital, the doctors informed us that he had been poisoned” he said.
He added, “And yet in the past, they had brutally beaten him, when he was returning from the campaign”.
The late Matovu was be laid to rest on Sunday at Kungu-Lutale.
