EC summons Kioga MP aspirant Ongia over disputed academic papers

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The Electoral Commission has summoned Dr Ongia John Francis to appear on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM to respond to allegations that the academic documents he submitted for nomination may be irregular. 

The summons follows a petition filed by Kioga County NRM flag-bearer Felix Adupa Ongwech, who is seeking Ongia’s disqualification over alleged inconsistencies in his academic records and personal information.

In a letter dated November 23, 2025, and signed by acting secretary Richard Baabo Kamugisha, the Electoral Commission notified Ongia that a formal complaint had been lodged challenging the authenticity and consistency of the documents he submitted during his nomination.

The letter states that the Commission will hear both the petition and Ongia’s response at its offices on Tuesday afternoon.

The petition, filed jointly by Adupa and the NRM party, raises several issues they say cast doubt on the credibility of Ongia’s academic qualifications. One of the primary concerns is an age discrepancy reflected in his academic papers.

The petition claims that Ongia sat for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations in 2002 at age 38, yet his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) documents indicate he was 30 years old in 2004.

The petition describes this eight-year reversal as “illogical and indicative of documents that are not credible.”

The petition further notes that Mathematics was a compulsory O-Level subject by 2002, yet Ongia’s UCE certificate does not list it. Adupa says this raises concerns about whether UNEB could have issued results excluding a compulsory subject.

Additionally, candidates were required to sit for a minimum of eight subjects, six of which would be graded, yet the UCE certificate attributed to Ongia reportedly shows only seven subjects.

Irregular national identification documents

The petition also cites information from the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). It states that “Ongia Francis John,” born in 1964, appears in the NIRA registry, whereas “Ongia John Francis,” the name under which the candidate was nominated on October 23, 2025, does not.

Adupa contends that this discrepancy raises questions about whether Ongia is a registered voter, a legal requirement for parliamentary candidates.

Adupa welcomed the summons from the Electoral Commission, describing it as confirmation of the seriousness of the concerns he raised. He dismissed suggestions that the petition is politically motivated, stating that his concerns are strictly documentation-based.

“The matter is now before the competent Commission,” he said. “I trust the principles of natural justice. I have presented evidence, and I am confident the Commission will evaluate it objectively.”

He also referenced an earlier dispute initiated by Ongia challenging his own nomination. Adupa explained that Ongia had relied on a forged letter allegedly from the University of Nairobi claiming the institution had disowned his qualifications.

Adupa stated he had sought clarification from the University, which confirmed the letter was fraudulent and that he is a legitimate alumnus with both a diploma and a bachelor’s degree. He said this history provides context for why he believes Ongia’s documents should undergo the same level of scrutiny.

Despite the rising tension, Adupa insisted that his focus remains on ensuring the electoral process adheres to the law. He confirmed he will attend the Tuesday hearing as required.

“I have nothing to hide. I have followed every legal step,” he said. “It is now up to the Commission to evaluate the facts.”

Electoral Commission deputy spokesperson Paul Bukenya confirmed that the petition against Ongia was filed by both the candidate and the NRM Party.

The petition seeks Ongia’s disqualification on allegations of forged academic documents and claims that he is not a registered voter.

The Electoral Commission is expected to make a determination after hearing from both candidates on Tuesday.