The Electoral Commission (EC) has disqualified Kyengera Town Council mayor and former musician Walukaga Mathias from the 2026 parliamentary race for Busiro East in Wakiso District, citing the expiry of his academic qualification. The decision, issued in a ruling dated 15 November 2025, followed a petition challenging the legality of his nomination and the authenticity of the documents he submitted.
Walukaga, widely known in entertainment circles and now serving as a local leader, had sought to contest for the position of Member of Parliament. However, the EC revealed that during the verification process, it was established that the Certificate of Mature Age/Aptitude Test he relied upon had already lapsed by the time he presented it for nomination on 23 October 2025. Officials stated that the certificate, which he had used previously to gain university admission, could not be accepted because it had exceeded the nationally recognised two-year validity period.
In the ruling, EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama explained that the Commission acted in line with Section 4(1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which prescribes the minimum academic requirements for parliamentary aspirants. He noted that Walukaga did not meet the required formal qualifications at the time of nomination, a situation that rendered his candidature invalid. “Candidate Walukaga Mathias lacked the requisite minimum formal qualifications for the elective office of Member of Parliament,” Justice Byabakama stated, adding that the candidate “therefore stands denominated.”
The case stemmed from a petition lodged earlier in November, which argued that Walukaga’s mature-age certificate had expired before he submitted it to the EC. The petitioners insisted that the certificate was no longer admissible under Uganda’s academic guidelines, which impose a clear validity window for mature-age assessments. While Walukaga’s legal representatives defended his eligibility—arguing that using the certificate to enrol in a Bachelor’s degree programme kept it valid—the Commission ruled that admission into higher education did not extend its validity for political nomination purposes.
The decision has drawn attention to the continued scrutiny that the Electoral Commission is applying to academic qualifications ahead of the 2026 general elections. Over the years, the Commission has faced increasing pressure from both the public and civil society groups to tighten the verification process, following cases where ineligible candidates slipped through nomination stages with questionable academic documents. The ruling in Walukaga’s case appears to reinforce the Commission’s resolve to uphold the legal standards governing electoral participation.
Public reaction to the decision has been mixed. Some citizens and analysts argue that the ruling underscores the importance of maintaining strict compliance with nomination requirements, stressing that political leaders must meet the minimum educational benchmarks set by law. They contend that such measures protect the integrity of public office and ensure fairness in the electoral process.
However, others have expressed concern that the rigid enforcement of expiration timelines, particularly for mature-age entry certificates, could disadvantage individuals who pursue non-traditional educational pathways. These critics argue that Uganda should consider reviewing the maturity certificate validity period to accommodate candidates who may have progressed academically since obtaining the qualification.
The disqualification of Walukaga removes one of the race’s anticipated contenders from the Busiro East ballot, reshaping the dynamics of the upcoming contest as political parties and independents continue to finalise their candidates. The incident has also reignited wider discussions on the role of academic credentials in political leadership, electoral fairness, and the accessibility of public office for candidates from diverse educational backgrounds.