The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) has suffered yet another setback after the Electoral Commission (EC) disqualified its candidate for the Busiro East constituency, Mr Mathias Walukagga, over lack of academic qualifications.
Mr Walukaga, a singer turned politician, who is the current mayor of Kyengera Town Council, was nominated to run for the Opposition-dominated Busiro East Constituency as the Opposition party sought to replace the incumbent, Mr Medard Ssegona, a veteran lawyer who has represented the constituency since 2011. Mr Ssegona is seeking his fourth term in the 12th Parliament. The EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama said Mr Walukaga lacked the requisite minimum formal qualifications for the elective office of Member of Parliament because the academic documents he presented had already expired.
‘Accordingly, candidate Mathias Walukaga lacked the requisite minimum formal qualifications for the elective office of Member of Parliament as stipulated under Section 4 (1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177. Candidate Walukaga, therefore, stands denominated’ Justice Byabakama stated in an official communication. Justice Byabakama said on the day of nomination, Mr Walukaga presented a Certificate of Mature Age/Aptitude Test issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) on June 12, 2023, and a Certificate of Equivalence from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) dated June 11, 2025, for purposes of his nomination.
He added that despite a November 1, letter from IUIU to the EC, confirming that Walukaga sat for the Mature Age Aptitude Test on February 25, 2023, scoring 54 percent, the certificate had already expired by the time of nomination.
‘Paragraph 9 (b) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions (Benchmarks for Verifying, Determining and Recognising Academic Qualifications as a Person Holding a Minimum Qualification of Advanced Level or its Equivalent) Legal Notice No.12 of 2015 states that a certificate awarded to a person who passes the mature age entry examinations with at least 50 percent is valid for only two years from the date of award,’ Justice Byabakama stated in the letter.
NUP seeks legal redress
Upon receiving the news, the NUP leadership announced that it would seek legal redress over Mr Walukaga’s disqualification to the High court to secure justice for its candidate. Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP secretary general, while addressing journalists yesterday criticised the EC’s decision, saying it was intended to frustrate their candidates ahead of the 2026 polls.
‘The country can now see that institutions are operating as if we are a completely failed state. Almost all institutions are getting eroded each passing day. We are going to challenge this in court to get justice,’ he stated.
‘We scrutinised all our candidates, including Walukaga. We wonder why the EC would nominate our candidate and later disqualify him on grounds of lacking qualifications. This is a targeted move motivated by State operatives,’ he claimed. He said the party will announce their final plans on the final candidate for the Busiro East MP race.
Walukaga strong
Commenting on his denomination, Mr Walukaga re-echoed that he hopes that the High Court will overturn the EC’s decision and have him duly nominated.
‘My people should stay strong and not be discouraged. We are going to get justice. This was a political decision, but we are heading to the High Court to seek fairness. Justice Byabakama and the EC can make a wrong decision; we can respect it, but that does not mean that we are not allowed to disagree with it,’ Mr Walukaga confidently stated.
Why would a certificate expire?
Mr Saul Waigolo, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) spokesperson, confirmed that the Mature Entry Qualification Certificate is valid for only two years from the date of issuance, explaining further that it must be used within that period to maintain relevance. Mr Waigolo stated that once a candidate has enrolled for a course, before obtaining any other qualification, the mature entry certificate can no longer be used once it expires.
‘A qualification is something awarded, not something in progress. It is not the same as semester results. As long as you were admitted within the two-year period, the qualification remains valid,’ he explained.