By Peter Luzinda
MASAKA
The Masaka High Court has ordered the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to clarify the academic qualifications of Ssembabule District Woman MP, Florence Nambaziira within two days after she told court that she never sat her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) or Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE).
Justice Christine Akello issued the order on Saturday,24th October, 2026 during the hearing of an election petition filed by Mary Begumisa, the former Woman MP for Ssembabule District, who is challenging Nambaziira’s victory in the January 2026 elections.
Appearing before the court, Nambaziira, who was elected on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, said she did not complete Primary Seven or Senior Four.
She told the court that she instead obtained a certificate in hairdressing from Mengo Youth Vocational Center through the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT). The training covered hair plaiting, hair washing and styling.
Her testimony prompted questions from Begumisa’s lawyer, Isaac Ebiro Ekirapa, about how she obtained an academic equivalence certificate from NCHE without having sat the primary and Ordinary Level examinations.
Ekirapa argued that NCHE needed to appear before the court to explain the status of the documents relied upon to establish Nambaziira’s academic eligibility.
Begumisa had earlier obtained records from DIT confirming the existence of the vocational certificate. Her petition challenges whether the qualification meets the minimum academic requirements for election to Parliament.
Uganda’s electoral laws require parliamentary candidates to possess a minimum formal education qualification equivalent to Advanced Level standard. Candidates relying on alternative qualifications must establish that their credentials meet the applicable equivalency requirements.
The court’s directive requires NCHE to clarify the status of Nambaziira’s academic documents as the proceedings continue.
Nambaziira was declared the winner of the Ssembabule District Woman MP race with 61,638 votes in the January 2026 elections. Begumisa received 24,495 votes, while musician Nina Kankunda, popularly known as Nina Roz, polled 15,345 votes. Esther Kyinkuhaire obtained 8,281 votes.
Beyond the academic challenge, Begumisa’s petition also alleges electoral irregularities, including voter bribery, ballot stuffing, multiple voting and obstruction of polling agents in parts of the district, including Mawogola and Mawogola West.
The allegations remain subject to the court’s determination.
NCHE’s response is expected within two days. The court will consider the information presented as it determines the petition challenging Nambaziira’s election.
