By Angel Lubowa
The latest devastating news for NUP members in Busiro East constituency ,NUP its self and its candidate in that area ,Mathias Walukagga being disqualified by the Electoral Commission as a candidate for the on going 2026 parliamentary contest is less amazing!
The EC gave a reason
that his academic papers had expired by the time he presented them for nomination.
Musician Walukagfa is the outgoing mayor for Kyengera Town Council, a post he scooped in the 2021 NUP electral wave, which also brought about many political dwarfs , novices or otherwise would be loosers into offices.
In a letter signed by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, the Commission said Walukaga failed to meet the minimum academic requirements set out in the Parliamentary Elections Act.
“Tests Walukaga Mathias presented for nomination had, by 23rd of October, 2025, clearly expired. Accordingly, Candidate Walukaga Mathias lacked the requisite minimum formal qualifications for the elective office of Member of Parliament as stipulated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap. 177. Candidate Walukaga Mathias, therefore, stands denominated,” the statement reads.
The communication was copied to Walukaga’s lawyers at Alaka & Co. Advocates and Nalukoola Advocates & Solicitors, as well as the Wakiso District Returning Officer, ended several days of anxiety surrounding the singer’s eligibility and throwing NUP’s Busiro East mobilisation into uncertainty.
Without minding whether this outcome will favour the incumbent, Hon Lubega Ssegona or not, I can boldly say NUP goofed.
NUP and Walukagga himself must have known his academic flaws and remained serving at TC levels or else they must have seen this coming.
A mature aptitude test pass letter can well help one to join an institution but can never be the very equivalent of an A level certificate which is not limited in time like the former.
When you have a distinguished vocal lawyer in your party, but for some reasons you feel he is no longer a representative of your political interests. You have to think twice.
Any new selection must be a firebrand entity as in education, mobilisation, personality, and if you want tested.
Though an out going Town mayor, Walukagga’s wanting academic scores were well known to whoever minded to know it save for NUP, he wouldn’t therefore make a suitable replacement whatsoever.
You don’t simply pick on a mediocre of any brand.
Mind you, Busiro East, where I hail from, has had a history of very sound representation right from Hon Timothy Muteesaira, Hon Mike Ssebalu, Hon Ssegona him self and Hon Suzan Nakawuki if you like.
Conventional thinkers in the constituency saw musician Walukagga as an insult courtsey of NUP popularity.
Even when you wanted to depose Ssegona, the great thinkers of NUP ought to have sieved Ssegona’s replacement from the most academically and politically competent members well knowing that the ticket loser in the incumbent wouldn’t just sit by, most especially being a lawyer.
Machinations wouldn’t be, therefore, any surprise!
Instead, they played slightly into the lions den, and now the end result is total disaster.
Some NUP local members will likely sourgrape to hit hard on Ssegona but given the circumstances winning him probably as party leaning candidates may make sense, especially if NUP can not find a more suitable alliance.
Suffice it to say that the EC
decision ironically comes as a major boost for incumbent MP Medard Lubega Ssegona, who was preparing for what many predicted would be a tight race against Walukaga, whose popularity among youth and urban voters had energised the campaign.
The EC said the process will proceed unless the decision is challenged and overturned in court.