The National Unity Platform (NUP) has announced it will appeal to the High Court after the Electoral Commission (EC) disqualified singer and Kyengera Town Council mayor Mathias Walukagga from the Busiro East parliamentary race.
Mr Walukagga had been cleared by the EC and had embarked on his campaign trail.
“The EC examined Walukagga’s papers properly and concluded he was fit to stand. Now they are turning around without any justification,” NUP secretary general Lewis Rubongoya said on Tuesday.
Mr Walukagga, who had won NUP’s flag to challenge veteran MP Medard Sseggona, was removed from the race on the grounds that he is not academically qualified.
An aspiring MP must have a minimum academic qualification of an Advanced Level certificate or its equivalent.
But Mr Rubongoya told reporters the EC’s claim is contradicted by both the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
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Displaying the NCHE equivalence letter, he said: “We contacted the Council and asked whether this certificate is genuine and valid, and whether they issued it. They confirmed that Mr Walukagga has the equivalent of an A-Level certificate. It is neither invalid nor expired.”
Mr Rubongoya added that Mr Walukagga entered IUIU through mature-age entry, and the university formally wrote to the EC on November 11 clarifying that such certificates do not expire once the recipient enrols at university.
“So on what basis is Justice Byabakama saying it expired?” he said. “St. Lawrence University has confirmed Mr Walukagga is in his third year. Are we supposed to believe someone can join university without the required qualifications?”
He accused the EC of deliberately targeting opposition aspirants.
“They tried to make NUP fail to get candidates. We had 425, and they made it extremely hard for them to be nominated,” he said, adding that some aspirants faced bribery attempts and threats.
“Three of our candidates have now been disqualified. No NRM candidate has suffered the same.”
He said retired Brigadier General Emmanuel Rwashande, who is contesting the Lwemiyaga seat, was still in the race despite presenting a certificate he said was issued by the UPDF in 1982, when the force had not been created.
Mr Rubongoya argued that the disqualifications are politically driven. “They are panicking because they fear the protest vote,” he said.
“Walukagga has enormous support in Busiro East—people tell us everywhere that they want him. He can even win 100%.”
NUP’s legal team is preparing to file the High Court appeal immediately.
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