By Sadique Bamwita
Lweza/Lubowa
The Chairperson of Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, has today September 23, 2025, turned away Presidential hopeful, Elton Joseph Mabirizi over queries surrounding his academic papers advising him to rush to the National council for Higher Education for verification.
Mabirizi who is the Conservative party’s Flagbearer arrived at the nomination venue on time accompanied by his appointed agent who presented his nomination forms and academic credentials to the Electoral commission for nomination to run in the upcoming 2026 presidential polls.
Justice Byabakama however, told the media that upon scrutinizing Mabirizi’s documents, the commission together with it’s legal team discovered that Mabirizi had submitted in writing a Master’s Degree qualification which was not certified by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE). The commission advised him to go to the NCHE to have the Master’s Degree certified.
“Mabirizi has the right to return to the commission for nomination after sorting out his academic papers,” Justice Byabakama advised Mr.Mabirizi.
“We have guided him (Joseph Mabirizi) return to his home and first sort out that issue. Once it is sorted, he’s at liberty to come back and we shall give him another opportunity to be nominated, Justice Byabakama assured Mabirizi.
In response, Mabirizi strongly castigated the Electoral commission for being unfair to him arguing that in 2016 he stood for presidency, and the very commission chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi cleared him but because he has added some qualifications, they are using it as an excuse to frustrate his presidential ambitions. He however, pledged to do as advised by the commission to take his academic papers to the National council for Higher Education for verification and thereafter he will return for nomination.
