Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1437 EAT on Wednesday 10 December 2025

The Electoral Commission (EC) has ruled musician-turned-politician Mathias Walukaga ineligible to contest the 2026 parliamentary elections for Busiro East Constituency in Wakiso District.

In a decision dated November 25, 2025, the EC cited Walukaga’s failure to meet the minimum formal academic qualifications stipulated under the Parliamentary Elections Act. Walukaga currently serves as the mayor of Kyengera Town Council.

The decision has sparked debate among local political observers, with some questioning the enforcement of academic requirements for public office, while others argue it upholds the integrity of the electoral process.

Political analysts say the ruling could reshape the race in Busiro East, opening the field to other candidates and potentially altering the constituency’s political dynamics ahead of the 2026 polls

The Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision follows a petition filed by M/S Signature Advocates, which challenged the validity of musician-turned-politician Mathias Walukaga’s mature age/aptitude test certificate submitted during his nomination on October 23, 2025.

According to the EC, the certificate—issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) on June 12, 2023—had expired by the time of nomination. The commission noted that the document carried a two-year validity period and had not been used to enrol in further studies within that timeframe.

“A certificate of equivalence from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) cannot validate an already expired qualification,” the EC ruled, citing the Supreme Court precedent set in the Gole Nicholas Davis vs Loi Kiryapawo case.

Walukaga’s legal team argued that the qualification remained valid because he had gained admission and was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration at St. Lawrence University. However, the EC rejected this argument, maintaining that he “lacked the minimum formal qualifications required for nomination.”

The dispute over Walukaga’s nomination had already fueled political tension in Busiro East. The incumbent Member of Parliament, Medard Lubega Ssegona, was initially denied the National Unity Platform (NUP) party flag in favor of Walukaga but was subsequently nominated as an independent candidate.

Credit to the Observer.

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here

Email: editorial@hicginewsagency.com TalkBusiness@hicginewsagency.com WhatsApp +256713137566

Follow us on all social media, type “HICGI News Agency” .