By Nanteza Ruth Walusimbi
NATIONAL
The Electoral Commission has dismissed a petition seeking to nullify the nomination of seven aspirants for the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat, affirming that the nominations were lawfully conducted and the complaint lacked merit.
In a decision issued on November 21, 2025, the Commission ruled that after reviewing submissions presented during a hearing held on November 10 at the EC offices in Ntinda it was established that the petitioner, Ivan Bwowe, the Patriotic Front for Freedom parliamentary flag bearer had made no case.
Bwowe had argued that the Commission had irregularly nominated his rivals under a non-existent constituency referred to as Nakawa West instead of the officially recognized/ designated Nakawa Division West.
The dismissed petition had targeted Joel Ssenyonyi, the incumbent MP and Leader of Opposition, alongside Nasasira Happy, Okuye Felix Ephraim, Okumu Vincent Norbert, Kyambadde Wilberforce, Burora Herbert Anderson and Rwamiti Apuuli.
Bwowe had wanted the nomination of his rivals nullified, the constituency declared non-existent, and himself recognized as the sole validly nominated candidate and awarded the seat unopposed.
However, the Commission found no evidence to substantiate the claims. It established that although some nomination papers bore the constituency name Nakawa West, all candidates, including Bwowe himself, personally completed and signed the EC Control Form that correctly designated the constituency as Nakawa Division West.
The Commission also noted that all aspirants submitted campaign schedules showing plans to campaign within the same geographical area, proving they were contesting for the same legally recognized constituency.
The Electoral Body has also faulted Bwowe for raising the issue as if it was unique to the respondents, noting that his own campaign materials and posters had used Nakawa West and Nakawa Division West interchangeably.
The ruling upheld the decision of the Kampala Returning Officer to nominate the respondents, paving the way for all eight candidates to proceed to the campaign trail ahead of the January 15, 2026 general elections.
The Nakawa division West Constituency race uniquely brings together a former journalist, a former Resident District Commissioner, a legal practitioner and politician as contenders.
