EC Eats Own Vomit as it Overturns Walukagga’s Nomination

By Abraham Lincolns

The Electoral Commission overturned their own nomination for the Kyengera Town Council Mayor Mathias Walukagga from the Busiro East parliamentary race, ruling that the aptitude test academic certificate he submitted by the time of nomination had expired.

The leading opposition party National Unity Platform (NUP) has suffered a fresh blow after the Electoral Commission (EC) denominated Walukagga following a petition filed on November 4, 2025, challenging his nomination on grounds that the Mature Age Entry Certificate he presented had expired by the time he submitted his documents on October 23, 2025. In a ruling issued by EC boss Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Commission concluded that Walukagga did not meet the minimum academic requirements for nomination as a member of Parliament, as provided under Section 4(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177.

According to the petitioner Hon. Medard Lubega Ssegona, the certificate issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) was valid for two years and had lapsed by June 12, 2025. Walukagga, through his lawyers of Nalukoola Advocates and Solicitors, argued that the certificate from IUIU remained valid because he had used it to enrol for a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, a programme he is currently pursuing at St. Lawrence University.

“After considering submissions from both sides, the Commission reviewed the certificate issued to Walukagga on June 12, 2023, alongside an equivalence certificate from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) dated June 11, 2025 as the expiry date, giving it a two-year lifespan”, the letter read in parts.

Although Walukagga submitted a supporting letter from IUIU dated November 11, 2025 confirming that he sat for the test on February 25, 2023 and scored 54 percent, the Commission maintained that the validity period printed on the certificate could not be altered.

The ruling also referenced Legal Notice No. 12 of 2015, which stipulates that a Mature Age Certificate is valid for only two years from the date of award, and the Supreme Court decision in Gole Nicholas Davis vs. Loi Kiryapawo, which established that an NCHE equivalence certificate cannot revive an expired qualification.

With these findings, the EC ruled that by the time Walukagga submitted his nomination on October 23, 2025, the certificate had already expired, rendering him ineligible for the Busiro East MP race. “Candidate Walukagga Mathias stands de-nominated,” Justice Byabakama declared, stating that he lacked the minimum formal academic qualifications required for nomination.

Over ten candidates in the Busiro East race comprises of an independent (NUP leaning) Emmanuel Magoola, Lillian Nakate, incumbent Medard Lubega Segona, Irene Nasolo, Kangave Fred, Masmus Kalungi, and Bangi Fatuma of ANT among others.

Walukagga’s elimination marks a new battle line redrawn between Medard Lubega Ssegona and Emmanuel Magoola who have been in the race as NUP leaning independent candidates running against party’s flag bearer who has also been a big threat to the NRM’s Hajji Abdu Kiyimba.

However, NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya informed the press that they are consulting their legal team to see if they submit their petition in the High Court because Hon. Walukaga’s documents are valid and true as long as he managed to enroll for a bachelor of degree in public administration at St. Lawrence University.

“The certificate expires after two years if the candidate has not enrolled for further studies otherwise the document remains valid. The Honorable Walukaga submitted a letter to Electoral Commission from St. Lawrence University where he is pursuing his studies and right now in third year. Is Byakama trying to tell us that someone is at a university without a senior six certificate?’, Rubongoya asked.

He added that the guidelines of the electoral commission clearly indicates that once a person submits a certificate from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), it is enough to certify that the person has the minimum qualification which Walukagga submitted.

The shocking news however left social media users with mixed reactions as some blamed Ssegona for fighting Walukagga with the blunt hand of the Speaker Anita Among because he had no votes on ground while others shifted the blame on the EC for playing biased politics.

“Ssegona and Among have fought tooth and nail to remove Walukagga from the race because he knows through the ballot, he can’t beat him. Electoral Commission is no longer independent but a biased institution playing politics for a few”, Ntale Brians tweeted.

On the same with just similar grounds, the EC trashed Hon. Theodore Ssekikukubo’s petition against NRM’s Emmanuel Rwashande of Lwemiyaga county flagbearer and maintained him as a legit candidate fit and qualified to run as a member of parliament.

Rwashande’s problems are similar to those of Walukaga but the nation was shocked when the same EC that threw away Walukaga instead maintained Rwashande in the parliamentary race.