EC Explains Disqualification Of 11 Candidates In Makindye Divisional Mayoral Race

Yasini Omari, the NRM Candidate for Makindye Division Mayor

The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, has explained why 11 candidates were disqualified from the Makindye Division mayoral race, leaving the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate (Yasini Omari) unopposed.

The disqualified candidates include John Bosco Lusagala, Ismail Tabalamule, Sumayiyah Nabadda, David Tigatoola, Nakibinge John Jjukko, Haruna Ssebbagala, Kayima Juma, Ssewanyana Malcom, Faith Nikka, and Semata Edie Geoffrey.

Byabakama said on Monday evening that the Commission carefully scrutinised the nomination documents, particularly the supporters’ signatures submitted by all candidates. He noted that most candidates failed to meet the requirement of at least 20 valid signatures from each parish in Makindye Division.

According to Byabakama, several nomination forms were either incomplete or lacked verified signatures from registered voters. “We scrutinised these documents and signatures after receiving a complaint, and we noticed that only one candidate fulfilled all the requirements. We have disqualified all the other candidates for not meeting the requirements, and only Omari has been left unopposed,” Byabakama said.

Byabakama cited the case of NUP candidate Bosco Lusagala, who allegedly failed to secure the required 20 signatures from Muyenga, Namuwongo, Kabalagala, and Buziga parishes, contrary to Section 129(3) of the Local Government Act. He added that in some instances, voters wrote to the Commission denying that they had seconded certain candidates.

However, Charles Lwanga Lubaga, one of the ejected candidates rejected the EC’s explanation, insisting that he complied with all nomination requirements. Lwanga said his long residence and leadership experience in Makindye Division made it impossible for him to fail to secure the required signatures.

He vowed to petition court for redress. “I don’t agree with what EC has done because I fulfilled all the requirements. There is no way a person who has been living in Makindye and has served as a councilor could have failed to get the signatures. We are heading to court to seek justice,” Lwanga said.

Lawyer Kenneth Paul Kakande, who represented National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Bosco Lusagala, also disputed the EC’s justification. Kakande said the documents cited by the Commission did not match what was submitted during nomination.

“We have different documents, and EC is talking about different documents. For us, we have everything we submitted, and we are convinced all the requirements were met. We are taking this matter to court,” Kakande said.

Byabakama said any candidate dissatisfied with the Commission’s decision has the right to seek redress in the courts of law. His position was supported by EC Spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi, who said the Commission has the authority to disqualify a candidate at any stage, even shortly before polling day.

“We cannot say that a person should be left in the race because there are few days left to voting. Once we establish that a person did not meet the requirements to be duly nominated, we can disqualify them even if it is one day to the polls,” Mucunguzi said.