NUP's Walukagga Busiro East race disqualification ruling for December 22

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The High Court in Kampala will on December 22 rule on whether the Electoral Commission (EC) illegally disqualified Mathias Walukagga from the Busiro East Constituency parliamentary race.

Justice Simon Peter Kinobe of the Civil Division, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, directed lawyers for both parties to file their written submissions within the week, which he will rely on to deliver the ruling. Walukagga was represented by lawyer Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola.

Walukagga, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag-bearer for the Busiro East parliamentary seat, sued the Electoral Commission, challenging his disqualification from the contest.

The EC had disqualified Walukagga from the parliamentary race over failure to meet the requisite minimum academic qualifications.

The decision followed a petition by lawyers from Signature Advocates, who argued before the EC tribunal that the mature-age entry examination certificate Walukagga submitted for nomination neither equated to the A’level qualification nor remained valid, as it had expired.

The suit

Walukagga sued EC alongside John Lubowa Kilimiro, a registered voter in Busiro East Constituency, who challenged his academic credentials. The case has been filed before the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala.

Walukagga lodged the petition on December 11, 2025, through three law firms: Nalukoola Advocates and Solicitors, Alaka and Company Advocates, and Ahamark Advocates.

Through his lawyers, Walukagga argues that the fact that he was admitted to university and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public administration based on the said certificate, “the impugned certificate was, therefore, valid for purposes of his nomination.”

However, EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama quoted the University and other Tertiary Institutions Legal Notice, which provides that a certificate awarded to a person who sat and passed mature age entry examinations with at least 50% shall be valid for two years from the date of the award.

The certificate of mature age/ aptitude test indicates June 12, 2025, as the date of its expiry.

However, Walukagga tendered to the EC a letter from the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), dated November 11, 2025, confirming that the certificate expires after two years if the candidate has not used it to enrol for further studies, otherwise, it remained valid.

Court documents indicate that Walukagga was nominated based on a certificate of mature age/aptitude test awarded by IUIU on June 12, 2023, and a certificate of equivalence issued by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) dated June 11, 2025, for his nomination.

Walukagga said upon issuance of a mature entry certificate, he immediately enrolled at St. Lawrence University in August 2023, where he is currently a third-year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public administration.

Walukagga argues that his mature entry certificate was equated to the formal education of advanced level standard by the NCHE in consultation with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) on June 11, 2025.

“The EC entertained the matter without jurisdiction in reviewing my academic papers, which had already been verified by NCHE in consultation with UNEB,” he contends.

Walukagga, therefore, argues that the decision by the EC to denominate him as a candidate for Busiro East Constituency MP is unjust, unfair and illegal.

Prayers

Walukagga seeks a court order setting aside the decision of the EC. He also wants the court to compel the EC to reinstate him as a candidate for the post of Busiro East Constituency MP.