Contestants in the Budiope East parliamentary race in Buyende District, Eastern Uganda, have dismissed as propaganda claims that incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Hashim Moses Magogo is running unopposed.
Mr Magogo, who also serves as the President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), is the husband of the Speaker of Parliament and Bukedea Woman MP, Ms Anita Among, who was also declared unopposed in her constituency.
They said the Electoral Commission (EC) duly nominated five candidates whose campaigns were harmonised and published.
The nominated candidates include: Mr Moses Hashim Magogo (NRM), Mr Daniel Mulirire (Independent),Mr Stephen Bangalana (Independent), Mr Peere Rabinson (PFF) and Ms Resty Nsiro (Independent).
Mr Magogo may join the growing list of unopposed candidates for the 12th Parliament if the EC Tribunal upholds petitions challenging his rivals’ nominations.
Four voters; Mr Humaru Waiswa, Mr Jackson Mandella, Mr Ibrahim Yeeko, and Mr Ayubu Baliise filed complaints questioning the eligibility of four aspirants: Mr Stephen Bangalana, Resty Nsiro, Daniel Mulirire, and Robinson Peere.
The petition against NRM-leaning candidate Mr Stephen Bagalana alleged that he failed to present the minimum number of nominators required for an independent candidate under the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Another complaint accuses independent candidate Ms Resty Nsiro of forging 10 signatures. The petitioner alleges that the people Ms Nsiro presented as nominators denied ever endorsing her, and she has not appeared before the Tribunal despite being summoned.
A separate challenge targets NRM’s Daniel Mulirire, with petitioner Ibrahim Yeeko claiming he is a serving police officer who did not resign six months before nomination, as required by law. Mr Mulirire has been summoned to defend himself.
The candidates have accused the EC of setting “a dangerous precedent” by nominating aspirants and later attempting to disqualify them on grounds of petitions allegedly questioning their paperwork.
They argue that the commission must take full responsibility for any nomination errors since all documents were submitted and vetted before clearance.
Mulirire denounces rumors of withdrawal
Addressing the media at Century Heritage Hotel Kagulu in Buyende District, Mr Mulirire dismissed reports that he had withdrawn from the race or been disqualified for non-compliance.
Mr Mulirire said one of the allegations raised against him is that he did not resign from his previous job early enough, a claim he described as baseless.
“We are here to pour cold water on this bogus claim. I resigned one and a half years ago and I had the resignation letter at nomination. It wasn’t even listed as a requirement on the nomination forms,” he clarified.
Mr Mulirire reaffirmed his loyalty to First Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rebecca Kadaga,
He said he is being politically witch-hunted for standing by First Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rebecca Kadaga and describing her as his mentor and political icon.
Mr Mulirire vowed to resist intimidation, harassment, and pledged to continue campaigning while opposing any attempts to manipulate the race in favour of the incumbent.
When contacted, Mr Stephen Bangalana, one of the contestants, said he has neither withdrawn nor been disqualified, but contended that the Magogo team lodged a case against him before the Electoral Commission, which is yet to be heard.
“These people are playing diversionary politics and using all sorts of mind games he is used to in football,” he told this publication. I was allegedly sued, but the EC has remained silent. We have not appeared before it, and they are now using this as a campaign tool to influence voters,” he said.
“We are getting jittery, suspicious and pushed to the wall,” said Mr Charles Galimaka, a political talk-show host and chairperson of the Greater Kamuli Media Association.
“How does the Electoral Commission nominate a candidate and later claim the same person lacked certain signatures or documents? What we are seeing is money and influence taking over democracy,” he said.
Mr Galimaka compared previous electoral processes under former Electoral Chairpersons, Mr Stephen Besweri Akabway and Engineer Badru Kiggundu, saying they handled elections better.
He expressed concern that under the current leadership, the Commission is turning electoral disputes into “courtroom dramas.”
He also condemned what he termed as the growing monetisation of politics, warning that it undermines democratic principles and weakens public accountability.
Mr Ayub Baliise, Mr Magogo’s official campaign agent, said their camp does not fear competition and remains confident of defeating the combined forces.
“Our candidate has nothing to fear. It is the voters, acting in their individual capacity not Magogo who filed the petitions, and it is now up to the Electoral Commission to receive, hear, and give its verdict,” he said.
Mr Magogo was declared winner of the NRM ticket for Budiope East with 63,758 votes, followed by Mr Geoffrey Dhamuzungu with 15,177 votes and Mr Mulirire garnered 2,127 votes.
Former Budiope East MP Mr Dhamuzungu pulled out of the race after the primaries, citing family pressure and consultations.
Mr Dhamuzungu, who was the main challenger, lost his father during the nomination week and announced his withdrawal at the burial.
“Following a family meeting, and in respect of my father’s wish that I refrain from the fluid politics, I have decided to step out of the race,” he said.
The EC Tribunal, chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama, is currently handling over 100 nomination disputes ahead of the 2026 elections
So far, 10 parliamentary candidates, including Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, and several representatives for women, youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities have already been confirmed unopposed.
(monitor)