EC throws Walukaga out of Busiro East parliamentary race

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The Electoral Commission has thrown out Mathias Walukaga, the National Unity Platform (NUP) official flag bearer for Member of Parliament (MP) for Busiro East in Wakiso district seat over lack of requisite minimum formal qualifications.

This was after supporters of Medard Lubega Sseggona who is the incumbent MP petitioned the EC tribunal claiming that the mature entry examination certificate presented by Walukagga for nomination did not equate to A-levels and had also expired.

EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama in a letter dated November 25, 2025, communicated the EC position to Signature Advocates who filed the complaint against Walukaga’s nomination, saying the commission had reviewed the matter and found he did not possess the minimum qualification and hence stood denominated.

“Reference is made to the complaint lodged with the commission on November 4, 2025, in respect to nomination of candidate Walukaga. The petitioner contended that Walukaga did not possess the requisite minimum academic formal qualifications for the elective office of MP,” Byabakama stated.

He said, “further the petitioner contended that, at the time the certificate of mature age/aptitude test was used for nomination by Walukaga on October 23, 2025, it had expired that rendering it invalid.”

EC noted that Walukaga on the other hand through his lawyers, “asserted that, the fact that, he was admitted to university and is currently pursuing bachelor’s degree in public administration on the basis of the said certificate, the impugned certificate was therefore valid for purposes of his nomination.”

EC said upon hearing the submissions of both parties, made by their respective counsel, and considering the laws that govern the qualifications for the nominations of MP’s, the commission in its meetings held on November 7, 10, and 14, 2025, made the following observations;

That Walukaga, presented the certificate of mature age/aptitude test awarded by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) on June 12, 2023, and the certificate of equivalence thereof issued by National Council for Higher educations (NCHE) dated June 11, 2025, for his nomination;

That the said certificate of mature age/aptitude test Walukaga presented for his nomination on October 23, 2025 indicates June 23, 2023 and June 12, 2025, as the dates of its issuance and expiry respectively;

At the hearing of the petition, Walukaga tendered a letter from IUIU dated November 11, 2025, certifying that Walukaga sat for mature age aptitude test held on February 25, 2023 and obtained a score of 54%;

The same letter states that the certificate expires after two years, if the candidates has not used it to enroll for further studies, otherwise the certificate remained valid. However, the said certificate of mature age/aptitude has a life span of 2 years which period is specifically stated on the document;

Further, paragraph 9 (b) of the University and other Tertiary institutions, Legal Notice No.12 of 2015, provides that a certificate awarded to a person who sat and passed mature age entry examinations with at least 50% hall be valid for two years from the date of the award.

“The Commission, cognizant of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Nicholas Gole Vs Lol Kiryapawo, elections Petition Appeal No. 19 of 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,” Byabakama stated.

He said in light of the above observations, the commission under MIN/COMP/048/2025, found that the certificate of mature age/aptitude test Walukaga presented for nomination had by October 23, 2025 clearly expired.

“Accordingly, candidate Walukaga lacked the requisite minimum forma; qualifications for the elective office of MP as stipulated under sections 4 (1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177. Candidate Walukaga therefore stands denominated,” Byabakama said.

The decision by EC leave Sseggona in the race against Emmanuel Matovu Magoola, an independent, and National Resistance Movement’s Abdul Kiyimba.