Budiope East will not hold elections for the directly elected Member of Parliament for Budiope East after the incumbent, Mr Moses Hashim Magogo, was declared unopposed, the district election returning officer has announced.
Mr Magogo, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer and husband to the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among, emerged as the sole candidate after all his challengers were either disqualified or withdrew from the race.
Buyende District Election Returning Officer, Mr George William Eriau, said the decision followed a High Court ruling that upheld the Electoral Commission’s disqualification of the last remaining challenger, Mr Mulirire.
“The High Court has upheld the EC’s decision to disqualify candidate Mulirire. This leaves the incumbent, Moses Hashim Magogo of the NRM, as the sole candidate. As a result, there will be no election for the directly elected Member of Parliament for Budiope East,” Mr Eriau said in a media message to voters.
He added that voters in the constituency will only participate in the Presidential and Woman Member of Parliament elections. Mr Eriau urged residents to remain calm and peaceful, assuring them that the Electoral Commission would deliver a credible electoral process.
Mr Magogo’s unopposed return has sparked mixed reactions across Buyende, with many residents saying the outcome had long been anticipated given the steady exit of his rivals from the race.
His strongest early challenger, Mr Godfrey Dhamuzungu, withdrew, citing the death of his father and pressure from family members. Other aspirants, including Stephen Bangalana, Mr Magogo’s former aide Rabin Peere, and Resty Nsiro, were disqualified following petitions over forged signatures, insufficient nominators, and other procedural irregularities.
While some local leaders and voters allege that certain candidates may have been “bought out,” others argue that some of the aspirants were strategically fielded to split votes against Mr Dhamuzungu, a claim that has not been independently verified.
Mr Magogo’s position as the husband to the Speaker of Parliament has also featured prominently in public debate, with supporters openly saying it gives Budiope East a strategic advantage in accessing national resources and influence.
During an NRM mobilisation event in Buyende District, Speaker Anita Among congratulated her husband on the unopposed victory, saying the outcome did not surprise her.
“Thank you for your prayers and for trusting Ssalongo to lead the NRM Party as District Chairperson. With the double blessings of twins, everything now comes in pairs, so just as I predicted, he has come out unopposed,” Ms Among said.
She noted that despite the unopposed win, the people of Budiope East expect strong leadership and will hold Mr Magogo accountable for his performance in Parliament.
Several district civil servants also praised Mr Magogo, describing him as a reliable ally of government programmes who works closely with technocrats.
“Having the husband to the Speaker of Parliament gives us an advantage to push, pull and strategise for a bigger share of the national cake and to receive extra attention,” one senior civil servant said.
However, the process that led to Mr Magogo’s unopposed declaration has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters.
Mr Tomasi Ngole, a supporter of the disqualified candidate Mulirire, accused the Electoral Commission of undermining democracy.
“The disqualification of candidates erodes democracy and public accountability. Candidates should have been left to win or lose credibly at the ballot,” Mr Ngole said.
In response, Mr Magogo dismissed allegations of manipulation, insisting that his commitment to serving the people of Budiope East remains firm.
“My passion to serve the people is unconditional, like a mother’s love. No pressure or propaganda will deter me from my mission,” he said.
The controversy has also attracted national attention, with First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga criticising the growing trend of disqualifying candidates.
She described the practice as worrying and said it undermines political competition, accusing the Electoral Commission of denying affected candidates a fair hearing.
“This is a strategy used by those who fear competition. Disqualifying candidates without proper consultations is unfair and a departure from past practice within the NRM,” Ms Kadaga said.
As Budiope East heads into the general elections without a parliamentary contest, attention now shifts to how Mr Magogo, unchallenged at the polls and closely linked to the powerful Office of the Speaker, will deliver on the high expectations placed upon him by both supporters and critics alike.
