The High Court has dismissed an election petition filed by Walukaga Mathias after ruling that he did not possess valid academic qualifications at the time of his nomination.
In a detailed judgment delivered on 21st December 2025, the court found that Walukaga relied on an expired academic certificate when he sought nomination, rendering his candidature invalid.
Justice Simon Peter M. Kinobe ruled that:
- An expired certificate cannot support a legitimate nomination.
- The petitioner did not have a valid academic qualification at nomination.
- His nomination was rightly set aside by the Electoral Commission.
- The Electoral Commission acted lawfully in disqualifying him.
While dismissing the petition, the judge declined to award costs to the respondents, noting that the case raised an important public issue that had not previously been tested in Uganda’s legal system. As a result, each party was directed to bear its own costs.
