The National Unity Platform (NUP) has suffered a fresh blow after the Electoral Commission (EC) disqualified Kyengera Town Council Mayor Mathias Walukagga from the Busiro East Parliamentary race over academic qualification issues.
In a ruling issued by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Commission concluded that Walukagga did not meet the minimum academic requirements for nomination as a Member of Parliament, as provided under Section 4(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177.
The decision followed a petition filed on November 4, 2025, challenging Walukagga's nomination on grounds that the Mature Age Entry Certificate he presented had expired by the time he submitted his documents on October 23, 2025.
According to the petitioner, the certificate issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) was valid for two years and had lapsed by June 12, 2025.
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Walukagga, through his lawyers, argued that the certificate remained valid because he had used it to enroll for a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, a programme he is currently pursuing.
After considering submissions from both sides, the Commission reviewed the certificate issued to Walukagga on June 12, 2023, alongside an equivalence certificate from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) dated June 11, 2025.
The EC noted that the Mature Age Certificate explicitly indicated June 12, 2023 as the date of issue and June 12, 2025 as the expiry date, giving it a two-year lifespan.
Although Walukagga submitted a supporting letter from IUIU dated November 11, 2025 confirming that he sat for the test on February 25, 2023 and scored 54 percent, the Commission maintained that the validity period printed on the certificate could not be altered.
The ruling also referenced Legal Notice No. 12 of 2015, which stipulates that a Mature Age Certificate is valid for only two years from the date of award, and the Supreme Court decision in Gole Nicholas Davis vs. Loi Kiryapawo, which established that an NCHE equivalence certificate cannot revive an expired qualification.
With these findings, the EC ruled that by the time Walukagga submitted his nomination on October 23, 2025, the certificate had already expired, rendering him ineligible for the Busiro East MP race.
"Candidate Walukagga Mathias stands de-nominated," Justice Byabakama declared, stating that he lacked the minimum formal academic qualifications required for nomination.
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More than ten candidates remain in the Busiro East race. They include Lillian Nakate, incumbent Medard Lubega Segona--running as an independent--Emmanuel Magoola, Irene Nasolo, Kangave Fred, Masmus Kalungi, and Bangi Fatuma of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).
Walukagga's removal marks another setback for NUP as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2026 general elections.
