Makerere-Kavule, Kampala – National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, publicly condemned Electoral Commission (EC) for what he described as the systematic and deliberate denial of nomination for the party’s duly endorsed LC5 chairperson candidates across multiple districts.
The briefing, held at NUP headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, was not just another political statement. It was a dramatic scene where seven affected party members stood alongside Rubongoya, their frustration deep, as they detailed how returning officers allegedly created impossible barriers to block their nominations, a move the party claims is a thinly veiled attempt to tilt the electoral field.
According to Rubongoya, the party had duly endorsed and presented its candidates for LC5 positions in districts including Kasese, Bundibugyo, Ssembabule, and Kitgum. However, upon presenting themselves for nomination, returning officers and electoral registrars imposed what he called undue obstacles that effectively barred them from completing the process.
“This appears to be a deliberate scheme aimed at undermining our participation in the forthcoming local government elections,” Rubongoya stated, adding that the party had already raised its concerns with EC.
“If no corrective action is taken, we are prepared to seek redress through the courts.”
The press briefing gave a platform to seven of these candidates, who shared emotional accounts of their ordeal.
Rubongoya made it clear that the party is not just crying foul; it is preparing for a legal battle. He announced that NUP is initiating legal proceedings against the Electoral Commission, accusing it of violating electoral laws and excluding both the candidates and their supporters.
“The alleged irregularities not only exclude our candidates but also deny the electorate a fair and democratic choice in the upcoming elections,” he asserted.
This is not the first time NUP has clashed with EC. The party has repeatedly accused the electoral body of bias, especially since the 2021 general elections, which they claim were marred by widespread irregularities.
This incident is set against a backdrop of escalating political tensions in Uganda as the country gears up for 2026 general elections. Opposition, particularly NUP, has consistently accused the government of using state institutions to suppress dissent and manipulate electoral outcomes.
Moreover, NUP itself is grappling with internal turmoil over allegations of selling party tickets to the highest bidder, a claim openly defended by Party Spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi just earlier today. This internal controversy, combined with external challenges from the EC, threatens to weaken the party’s cohesion and credibility.
As of now, Electoral Commission has yet to issue an official response to these specific allegations.
However, in a related incident in Sheema District, EC recently disqualified two candidates, Allan Muhimbise Bakinyenza and Edgar Mukundane, from running for LC5 chairperson, citing failure to meet the required number of signatures from registered voters. Mukundane alleged that EC officials were bribed to block his nomination, a claim the returning officer dismissed as baseless.
With legal action on the horizon, this conflict is likely to escalate. NUP has vowed to fight this injustice all the way to the courts, setting the stage for a protracted legal and political battle that could define the run-up to the 2026 polls.
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