KAMPALA. The Electoral Commission has thrown Mathias Walukagga out of the Busiro East parliamentary race for lack of minimum formal qualification for the position.
Walukagga, a singer and first-time contender, had been selected by the National Unity Platform (NUP) as its official candidate over incumbent MP Medard Sseggona in party primaries.
Sseggona, who publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the process, opted to seek re-election as an independent candidate.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Electoral Commission 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 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 therefore stands denominated,” reads part of Justice Byabakama’s letter copied to the returning officer of Wakiso Electoral District.
The development dramatically reconfigures the contest and is likely to trigger political fallout within NUP, whose internal processes had already sparked friction in the constituency. It is not yet clear whether NUP will put its weight behind Emmanuel Magoola Matovu ,an independent but NUP-leaning candidate or Ssengoona. Also in the race are;Engineer Nakate Lilian (Ind) ,Nasolo Irene(Ind) ,
NRM’s Abdul Kiyimba,Kangave Fred, Banji Fatuma of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT),Kalungi Masmuus, among others — making Busiro East one of the most crowded political arenas in the district.