BUYENDE.
Budiope East MP Moses Magogo has become the latest beneficiary of unopposed bonanza after the Electoral Commission (EC) h disqualified his archrival Mr Daniel Mulirire.
However ,the disqualification of Mulirire has left a bitter taste in the mouth of First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli Woman MP, Ms Rebecca Kadaga.
In a letter dated December 23, 2025, authored by the EC through its lawyer Mr Ibrahim Yeko and signed by EC chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the Commission annulled Mulirire’s nomination following a complaint lodged under Article 61(1)(f) and Section 15 of the EC Act.
The complaint challenged Mulirire’s eligibility to contest as a directly elected Member of Parliament for Budiope East, citing alleged non-compliance with the Parliamentary Elections Act.
According to the EC decision titled “EC decision regarding the complaint challenging the nomination of Daniel Mulirire,” the Commission found that Mulirire, a former police officer, failed to attach proof of resignation from public service at the time of nomination.
The EC said this omission contravened Section 4(4)(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, rendering his nomination papers void. Consequently, the Commission resolved to annul Mulirire’s nomination and quash the decision of the Buyende District Returning Officer.
However, Mulirire’s legal team has strongly disputed the ruling. His lawyer, Mr David Ngobi, argued that his client resigned from the police force well within the legally required timeframe.
“The law requires a public officer to resign at least 90 days before nomination. Mr Mulirire resigned more than 550 days before nomination. We are surprised by this decision. The EC misinterpreted the law and we shall petition to ensure that Mulirire goes to Parliament,” he said.
Mr Ngobi further accused the EC of denying his client a fair hearing.
Documents seen by this publication indicate that Mulirire’s resignation was approved by the Police Council’s Appointments, Promotions and Disciplinary Committee under Minute No. 009/15/04/2024, with effect from April 15, 2024.
The resignation letter, signed by Ms Dorah Abigaba on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, directed Mulirire to hand over all government property and noted that resignation relinquishes all pensionable rights under the Public Service Standing Orders.
Reacting to the disqualification, Ms Kadaga expressed strong dissatisfaction, describing the EC’s actions as a worrying trend of blocking candidates, especially in areas where the ruling party is perceived to be weak.
“Disqualifying candidates is a new development. We did not have this in the NRM before,” Ms Kadaga said while speaking at her home after Christmas prayers at St Paul’s Church, Mbulamuti, in Kamuli District. “This is a strategy used by people who fear competition. Where they are weak, they do not allow others to stand.”
She accused the EC of acting unfairly and denying affected candidates a chance to be heard.
“I am very dissatisfied with the way the EC is behaving. Every day, candidates are disqualified without being invited for hearings. That is not justice,” she said.
Meanwhile, incumbent Budiope East MP and aspirant Mr Moses Magogo dismissed claims that he is running unopposed in the 2026 parliamentary race.
“There have been allegations that I am unopposed, which is not true. That is why I am moving across the constituency, meeting voters, and seeking their support,” Mr Magogo said.
While acknowledging that some challengers were weak, Mr Magogo expressed confidence of victory, saying the 2026 elections would be easier than those of 2021, which he said were characterised by hate speech and tribalism.
“I expect a landslide victory. There are small pockets of violence, but security teams will handle them before polling day,” he said.
He downplayed the strength of Mulirire, his main challenger, noting that he garnered only two percent in the recent NRM party primaries. Another contender, Mr Geoffrey Dhamuzungu, who secured 18 percent, later declined to contest in the upcoming general election.
Mr Magogo said he expects to secure up to 90 percent of the vote and pledged to prioritise education, health services, road infrastructure, electricity, and access to safe water if re-elected.
The Budiope East race initially attracted five candidates: Moses Magogo (NRM), Stephen Bangalana (Independent), Robinson Peere (PFF), Resty Nsiro (Independent), and Daniel Mulirire (Independent), who has since been disqualified.
However, petitions have also been filed challenging the eligibility of Mr Bangalana, Ms Nsiro, and Mr Peere over alleged forged signatures, insufficient nominators, and other procedural irregularities. All the affected candidates have denied the allegations, insisting they remain in the race.
Mr Magogo, who also serves as president of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), is married to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who together with 10 other parliamentary candidates, including Vice President Jessica Alupo and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, have been confirmed unopposed.