The High Court in Kampala has upheld the Electoral Commission’s decision to cancel the nomination of Mathias Walukaga as a candidate for the Busiro East parliamentary seat, effectively ending his bid to contest in the upcoming election.
In a judgment delivered on December 21, 2025, Justice Peter Kinobe ruled that Walukaga did not meet the required academic qualifications at the time of nomination.The court found that the Mature Age Entry Certificate he presented had expired, rendering it invalid.
Walukaga had been nominated on October 23, 2025, to run for Member of Parliament for Busiro East Constituency in Wakiso District. However, the Electoral Commission challenged his eligibility, arguing that he lacked valid academic credentials as required by law.
Justice Kinobe agreed with the Commission’s position, affirming that the decision to cancel Walukaga’s nomination was lawful and procedurally sound.
While dismissing the petition, the judge declined to award costs to the respondents, noting that the case raised an important public issue that had not previously been tested in Uganda’s legal system. As a result, each party was directed to bear its own costs .
After the removal of Mathias Walukaga from the race, the battle for Busiro East has now been left between Magoola Emmanuel (independent), Hajji Abudu Kiyimba of the NRM, and Medard Ssegona (independent).
