The Electoral Commission has officially denominated Busiro East parliamentary hopeful Walukaga Mathias after ruling that the academic qualification he presented for nomination had expired by the time he submitted it. The decision follows a petition filed on 4th November 2025, challenging the validity of the mature age/aptitude certificate that Walukaga relied upon to seek nomination.
According to a detailed communication issued by Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, the Commission found that Walukaga did not meet the minimum academic formal qualifications required for a Member of Parliament as set out under Section 4 (1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177.
The Petition and the Key Claim
The petitioner argued that Walukaga’s Mature Age/Aptitude Test Certificate, awarded by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), had expired by 23rd October 2025, the day he was nominated. Mature age certificates are valid for two years from the date of issue, and the petitioner insisted that Walukaga’s certificate fell outside this validity window, making it unusable for nomination.
Walukaga’s lawyers countered that since he had already been admitted to university and was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree based on the same certificate, it should remain valid for nomination purposes.
Commission’s Findings
After hearing both parties from 7th to 15th November 2025 and reviewing documentation from IUIU and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), the Commission established several facts:
- Walukaga presented a Mature Age Certificate issued on 12th June 2023, with an expiry date of 12th June 2025.
- He presented this certificate for nomination on 23rd October 2025—four months after its expiry.
- A letter from IUIU dated 11th November 2025 confirmed that Walukaga sat the Mature Age Test on 25th February 2023 and scored 54%, earning the certificate—but also confirmed the two-year validity period.
- The Commission emphasized that NCHE’s equivalence certificate cannot revive or legitimize an expired qualification, citing the Supreme Court precedent in Gole Nicholas Davis vs Loi Kiryapawo (Election Petition Appeal No. 19 of 2007).
- Paragraph 9(b) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Legal Notice No. 12 of 2015 clearly states that such certificates remain valid for two years only, provided the holder scored at least 50%.
Conclusion: Certificate Expired, Qualification Invalid
After reviewing all evidence, the Electoral Commission concluded:
“The Certificate of Mature Age/Aptitude Test Walukaga Mathias presented for nomination had, by 23rd October, 2025, clearly expired.”
This meant Walukaga did not possess the required minimum academic qualifications for election as a Member of Parliament. As a result:
“Candidate Walukaga Mathias therefore stands denominated.” — Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon
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