Wakiso, Uganda: The Uganda Electoral Commission has disqualified musician-turned politician Mathias Walukaga from contesting in the 2026 Parliamentary elections for Busiro East Constituency after ruling that he did not meet the minimum academic qualifications required under the Parliamentary Elections Act.
In a decision issued on 25 November 2025, the EC concluded that Walukaga’s Mature Age/Aptitude Test certificate, submitted during his nomination on 23 October 2025, was invalid at the time of nomination.
The certificate, issued by the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) on 12 June 2023, had expired after its two-year validity period lapsed without being used for enrolment into a recognised academic programme.
The ruling followed a petition filed by M/S Signature Advocates, which challenged the legitimacy of the certificate. The EC further noted that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) equivalence certificate could not revive or validate an expired qualification, citing the Supreme Court precedent in Gole Nicholas Davis vs Loi Kiryapawo.
Walukaga’s legal team argued that his ongoing Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration at St. Lawrence University justified the use of his Mature Age certificate. The EC rejected this position, maintaining that the singer-politician “lacked the minimum formal qualifications required for nomination.”
The fallout has added fresh tension to the Busiro East contest. It comes just weeks after incumbent MP Medard Lubega Ssegona was denied the NUP party flag, which was instead awarded to Walukaga, currently the Mayor of Kyengera Town Council.
Ssegona has since been nominated as an independent candidate.
Political observers say the EC ruling significantly alters the constituency’s 2026 race dynamics. “This is a classic clash between celebrity appeal and parliamentary experience,” one analyst said. “Walukaga’s cultural influence would have been formidable, but legal qualifications remain non-negotiable under Ugandan law.”
(daily express)
