By Mulengera Reporters
The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, has clarified the reasons behind the disqualification of 11 candidates from the Makindye Division mayoral race, leaving only the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate unopposed.
Byabakama explained that the Commission had carefully scrutinized the nomination documents, particularly the supporters’ signatures submitted by all the candidates.
He pointed out that many of the candidates, including John Bosco Lusagala, Ismail Tabalamule, Sumayiyah Nabadda, David Tigatoola, John Nakibinge Jjukko, Haruna Ssebbagala, Juma Kayima, Malcom Ssewanyana, Faith Nikka, and Edie Geoffrey Semata, had 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. He mentioned that the Commission had reviewed the documents and signatures after receiving a complaint and had found that only one candidate met all the requirements. This led to the disqualification of the other candidates, leaving the NRM candidate unopposed.
Byabakama also referred to the case of NUP candidate John Bosco Lusagala, who had allegedly failed to secure the necessary 20 signatures from key parishes such as Muyenga, Namuwongo, Kabalagala, and Buziga, in violation of Section 129(3) of the Local Government Act. He added that some voters had contacted the Commission, denying that they had endorsed certain candidates, including Lusagala.
Responding to the disqualification, one of the excluded candidates, Charles Lwanga Lubaga, rejected the EC’s explanation, insisting that he had met all the nomination requirements.
Lubaga expressed his intention to petition the court for redress, emphasizing that his long residence and leadership experience in Makindye made it impossible for him to have failed to gather the required signatures.
Byabakama reiterated that any candidate dissatisfied with the Commission’s decision had the right to seek redress in court. He was supported by the EC spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, who pointed out that the Commission had the authority to disqualify candidates at any stage, even shortly before polling day. Mucunguzi explained that the Commission could disqualify a candidate even if there were only a few days left to voting, once it had been determined that the candidate did not meet the necessary requirements.
Byabakama concluded by reaffirming the Commission’s stance on ensuring that all candidates meet the required criteria before being nominated.
