FULL RULING: Walukaga Disqualified; Bobi Wine’s Choice for Busiro Seat Removed from MP Race

The Electoral Commission (EC) has disqualified National Unity Platform (NUP) stalwart and singer-turned-politician Mathias Walukaga from the Busiro East parliamentary race after determining that he lacked the minimum academic qualifications required to stand for Member of Parliament.

In a formal communication addressed to his lawyers at Signature Advocates, the Commission ruled that Walukaga’s Mature Age/Aptitude Certificate, which he relied on for nomination, had expired by the time he submitted his paperwork on 23rd October 2025.

According to the EC, Walukaga presented a Certificate of Mature Age/Aptitude Test issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) dated 12th June 2023, alongside an equivalence certificate issued by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) on 11th June 2025.

However, investigations revealed contradictions regarding issuance and expiry dates—and most critically, that the certificate’s two-year validity window had lapsed.

A letter tendered by IUIU during the petition hearing confirmed that Walukaga sat for the mature-age examinations on 25th February 2023 and scored 54%. Under Paragraph 9(b) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions (Legal Notice No. 12 of 2015), such certificates remain valid for only two years from the date of issuance and only for purposes of university admission.

The Commission noted that although Walukaga had used the certificate to join university for a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, this did not automatically make the same certificate valid for parliamentary nomination—especially after its expiry.

The EC further cited the Supreme Court decision in Gole Nicholas Davis vs Loi Kiryapawo, which clarified that an NCHE equivalence certificate is not an academic qualification by itself and cannot revive an expired one.

“Accordingly, Candidate Walukaga Mathias lacked the requisite minimum formal qualifications for the elective office of Member of Parliament,” wrote EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, before declaring that Walukaga “stands denominated.”

Walukaga, considered one of Bobi Wine’s closest allies in Wakiso and a mobilizer in Busiro, now faces a major political setback. His disqualification not only disrupts NUP’s strategy in the region but raises questions about the party’s verification process before presenting candidates to contest for leadership positions.

It remains unclear whether Walukaga and his legal team will appeal the EC decision, but the development marks a significant blow for the NUP camp ahead of the heated 2026 general elections.