The Electoral Commission (EC) has nullified the nomination of Busiro East parliamentary candidate Mathias Walukagga, ruling that the academic certificate he presented had expired before he submitted his nomination papers on October 23, 2025.
The decision, issued by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, follows a petition lodged on November 4, 2025, which challenged Walukagga’s eligibility to stand as a Member of Parliament.
The petitioners argued that Walukagga had presented a Mature Age/Aptitude Test Certificate issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) on June 12, 2023.
The certificate, which carries a two-year validity, expired on June 12, 2025—four months before nomination day.
Under Legal Notice No. 12 of 2015 (Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions – Benchmarks for Verifying, Determining and Recognising Academic Qualifications), a Mature Age Certificate is valid for only two years from the date of issuance.
If a certificate is used to gain admission into a degree program immediately, some institutions may treat it as “utilised,” but for other purposes—like nominations or jobs—the certificate itself must still be valid.
According to the petition, this expiry rendered the certificate invalid for nomination under the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177, which requires all aspirants to meet minimum academic qualifications of Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education and therefore he has been de-nominated from the Busiro East parliamentary race unless he seeks judicial review in the High Court.
More than ten candidates remain in the Busiro East race, including the incumbent Medard Lubega Sseggona, Lillian Nakate, Emmanuel Magoola, Irene Nasolo, Kangave Fred, Masmus Kalungi, and Bangi Fatuma of the Alliance for National Transformation.
By Alex Magala
09th Dec 2025
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