SEMBABULE. The contest for the Lwemiyaga County parliamentary seat has taken a new twist with incumbent legislator Theodore Sekikubo petitioning the Electoral Commission cancel the nomination of the NRM flag-bearer, Rtd Brig. Emmanuel Rwashande.
Sekikubo, through his lawyer Caleb Alaka, is challenging the nomination on five grounds, including allegations that Brig. Gen. Rwashande does not possess the minimum academic qualifications required of a Member of Parliament, failed to secure the mandatory number of seconders and submitted irregular nomination forms.
“Brig. Gen. Rwashande lacks the minimum qualifications to contest for the MP seat as he does not possess PLE results, UCE and UACE certificates,” Alaka told the Electoral Commission.
He further questioned how the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) equated what he described as Rwashande’s unverified academic documents. “The National Council for Higher Education has been put on the task to explain the circumstances under which they equated Rwashande’s alleged academic credentials without certified copies from the awarding institutions,” he said.
Sekikubo also argued that the NRM candidate did not provide the minimum number of seconders for nomination, as required under the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Act.
The Electoral Commission is expected to summon Rwashande to respond to the claims before a ruling is issued.
The complaint adds to a growing list of disputes ahead of the 2026 elections, bringing the number of parliamentary election petitions before the Commission to 70, with 150 local government council petitions also pending.