EC disqualifies Isingiro Woman MP candidate over ‘double signature’ as Kyagulanyi cries foul

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has disqualified Isingiro District Woman Member of Parliament candidate Resty Sarah Kyarimpa citing irregularities in her nomination papers.

The decision, delivered on December 23, 2025, followed a petition filed by M/s Ortus Advocates, which challenged the validity of Kyarimpa’s nomination supporters. Kyarimpa is National Unity Platform (NUP) flag-bearer.

According to the EC, its verification exercise established that one of the listed supporters, Tadeo Niwamanya, appeared twice on Kyarimpa’s nomination forms.

The Commission ruled that once the duplicate entry was expunged, the candidate was left with nine valid supporters, falling short of the minimum 10 registered voters required under Section 28(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

“The effect of the duplicate entry was to render the nomination invalid,” the Commission ruled, effectively barring Kyarimpa from contesting in the January polls.

Decision questioned

NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, condemned the decision, accusing the EC of selectively applying technicalities to block Opposition candidates.

In a statement posted on X, Kyagulanyi questioned how the alleged duplication could occur within the Commission’s own systems.

“The Electoral Commission operates a computerised system that does not allow one person to endorse a candidate twice,” Kyagulanyi said.

“It is, therefore, dishonest for the chairman to claim that one individual supported Resty’s nomination twice. This is yet another illegal denomination of our candidates.”

Kyagulanyi further alleged that Kyarimpa had previously rejected financial inducements to withdraw from the race, describing her disqualification as politically motivated, claims EC has consistently denied.

Part of wider pattern

Kyarimpa’s disqualification adds to a growing list of NUP candidates whose nominations have been nullified in recent weeks, prompting the party to warn of what it calls a “nomination purge” targeting Opposition contenders.

Other high-profile cases, include Mathias Walukagga, the Busiro East MP aspirant and incumbent Kyengera town mayor, whose nomination was cancelled on December 9 after the EC ruled that his academic documents were invalid; Mercy Rebecca

Abedican, the NUP candidate in Nebbi district, who was disqualified over insufficient valid supporter signatures, resulting in her rival being declared unopposed.

While the Electoral Commission maintains that all its decisions are based strictly on the law, NUP argues that the rigid enforcement of nomination requirements is undermining confidence in the electoral process.

Several constituencies have already seen several candidates declared unopposed, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Among (Bukedea woman MP), Vice-President Jessica Alupo (Katakwi woman MP), Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda North), Ofwono Opinion (older persons Eastern Uganda). 

Others, include Lillian Paparu (Arua District Woman Representative), Catherine Akumu Mavenjina (Older Persons Representative), Ruth Rujoki (Kiruhura District Woman Representative), and Emely Kugonza (Buyanja East MP).

Also unopposed are Peggy Joy Waako, National Female MP for Older Persons; Jeniva Nalongo Arianaitwe, Rubirizi District Woman MP; Banya Emmanuel, Koboko District MP; Okot Boniface Henry, tNorthern Region - Youth, Laura Kanushu Opori, National Female MP for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).