KAMPALA, Uganda – The Electoral Commission (EC) has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination of Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande as a candidate for the Lwemiyaga County parliamentary race, clearing him to contest in the 2026 elections.
The decision, communicated in a Dec. 3 letter signed by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, followed a complaint by incumbent MP Theodore Ssekikubo. He had alleged Rwashande lacked the requisite academic credentials and failed to secure the minimum number of nominators required under Ugandan law.
Justice Byabakama ruled that Rwashande submitted necessary qualifications, including a Diploma in Defense and Strategic Studies and senior command certificates, which were verified and equated by the National Council for Higher Education. The commission also confirmed that the 10 registered voters supporting his nomination were legitimate, authenticated through the EC’s Nominations and Results Management Dashboard.
The petition also raised concerns over discrepancies in the date of an oath submitted by Rwashande. The EC found these concerns resolved by an affidavit from His Worship Richard Wananda, who confirmed administering the oath on 7 September 2025. “The Commission is satisfied that the minimum statutory requirements were fulfilled. Accordingly, the decision of the Returning Officer nominating Brig Gen Rwashande Emmanuel is upheld,” the ruling states.
The challenge emerged amid a competitive political atmosphere in Lwemiyaga County, where Ssekikubo, a long-serving legislator, faces a strong contest. The EC’s decision clears the way for Brig Gen Rwashande to remain on the ballot, setting the stage for what promises to be a heated election in January 2026. Legal analysts say the ruling emphasizes the EC’s reliance on verifiable records rather than political disputes. “Section 28 of the Parliamentary Elections Act is very clear: ten registered supporters and basic academic qualifications are the threshold. Once those are met, a nomination is valid,” noted a Kampala-based election lawyer who spoke anonymously.
Justice Byabakama underscored the EC’s administrative role, saying, “Our mandate is to ensure compliance with the law, not to arbitrate political rivalries.” With the ruling issued, both camps now return to campaigning, with voters in Lwemiyaga poised to decide the outcome in January.
