BREAKING! Electoral Commission Throws NUP’s MP Candidate for Busiro East

By Weswa Ronnie

NATIONAL

The Electoral Commission has thrown Mathias Walukagga out of the Busiro East parliamentary race for lack of minimum formal qualification for the position.

Walukagga, a singer and first-time contender, had been selected by the National Unity Platform (NUP) as its official candidate over incumbent MP, Medard Sseggona in party primaries.

Sseggona, who publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the process, opted to seek re-election as an independent candidate.

The development dramatically reconfigures the contest and is likely to trigger political fallout within NUP, whose internal processes had already sparked friction in the constituency.

In a letter dated 25^th November, 2025, the EC contends that Walukagga was nominated on the basis of a Mature Entry Certificate which he obtained from Islamic University in Uganda on 12^th June, 2023 with an expiry date of two years from time of issuance. NCHE gave a Certificate of A’Level equivalent on basis of the Mature Age Entrance Certificate which the complainant however deemed expired by the time of presentation for nomination.

However, by the time Walukagga presented the same for his nomination on 23^rd October, 2025, the certificate had obviously by 12^th June, 2025.

“The Commission Cognizant of the decision of the Supreme Court, in the case of Gole Nicholas Vs Loi Kiryapawo Election Petition Appeal NO.19 2007 further observed that a certificate of NCHE is not a qualification by itself and it cannot give life to an invalid or expired qualification,” reads EC’s letter in part.

The EC in a Minute MIN.COMP/048/2025 ruled that the Mature Age Entrance Walukagga presented for nomination on 23^rd October, 2025 had expired and he is accordingly denominated.

Meanwhile, NUP has announced that it will take the Electoral Commission (EC) to the High Court over the disqualification of its Busiro East MP candidate, Mathias Walukagga, who was removed from the race on grounds of lacking the required academic qualifications. NUP secretary general, David Rubongoya while addressing the media today accuses the Commission of deliberately targeting NUP candidates.