The Electoral Commission (EC) has removed Kyengera Mayor and musician Mathias Walukagga from the 2026 Busiro East Parliamentary race after determining that the academic certificate he submitted for nomination had expired.
The decision, which follows a petition challenging his eligibility, was issued in a letter signed by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama. In the communication, the Commission stated: “Tests Walukaga Mathias presented for nomination had, by 23rd of October, 2025, clearly expired. Accordingly, Candidate Walukaga Mathias 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 Mathias therefore stands denominated.”
According to the EC findings, Walukagga relied on a Mature Age Entry Certificate issued on June 12, 2023, which carried a two-year validity period ending on June 12, 2025. By the time he submitted his nomination documents in October 2025, the Commission concluded that the certificate had lapsed, and therefore could not support his candidacy. The EC also noted that neither an equivalence letter from the National Council for Higher Education nor correspondence from the Islamic University in Uganda could extend or reinstate an expired qualification.
Walukagga’s legal team, which received copies of the EC decision, had argued that his ongoing Bachelor’s degree studies justified continued use of the certificate. However, the Commission maintained that the validity period printed on the document was binding and could not be altered.
The disqualification marks a major turn in a race already roiled by internal disputes within the National Unity Platform (NUP). Walukagga had recently been declared the party’s flag bearer, replacing long-serving MP Medard Lubega Ssegona, whose loss in the primaries drew considerable debate among supporters. Ssegona, who had since announced an independent bid, now returns to the campaign without his most prominent challenger.
After meeting constituents in Naggalabi, Ssegona reaffirmed his intentions: “I am contesting as an Independent in the 2026 General Election,” he said, adding that he would soon release his manifesto. He also highlighted that his decision does not sever ties with the wider goals of his former party. “Even as an independent, I will support Hon. Kyagulanyi for president. At other levels, I have the freedom to support capable candidates regardless of party.”
The updated field now includes more than ten candidates vying for the Busiro East seat, with analysts noting that the removal of the NUP-endorsed contender could significantly reshape voter dynamics as campaigns intensify ahead of the 2026 general election.
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