Daniel Mulirire, a political contender in the Budiope East constituency, has filed a court petition challenging his disqualification from the race, alleging procedural irregularities by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Mulirire expressed shock at the timing of the commission’s actions. “We were shocked to learn that the commission sat on November 18, yet we were only served with the petition on November 23, meaning a decision was made before we were even heard,” he said.
On December 23, 2025, the Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda disqualified Daniel Mulirire, a former police officer and independent candidate challenging incumbent MP Moses Magogo (who is also FUFA president and married to Speaker Anita Among) in the Budiope East constituency, Buyende District, ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The EC ruled that Mulirire failed to provide proof of resignation from public service (Uganda Police Force) at the time of his nomination, violating Section 4(4)(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act. This rendered his nomination void under Section 30(e).
However, a resignation letter dated April 18, 2024 (effective April 15, 2024) surfaced, showing he left service over a year earlier—well beyond the required 90-day cooling-off period for civil servants.
Mulirire has since filed an appeal in the High Court in Kampala challenging the decision.
Former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga also criticised the disqualification process, describing it as unprecedented within the ruling party. “Disqualifying candidates is a new development. We did not have this in the NRM before. This is a strategy used by people who fear competition.”
She added: “Where they are weak, they do not allow others to stand… I am very dissatisfied with the way the Electoral Commission is behaving. Every day, candidates are disqualified without being invited for hearings. That is not justice,” Kadaga said.
The Budiope East race attracted five candidates: Magogo (NRM), Stephen Bangalana (Independent), Robinson Peere (PFF), Resty Nsiro (Independent), and Mulirire (Independent).
However, petitions have been filed challenging the eligibility of Bangalana, Nsiro and Peere on allegations that they forged signatures, submitted insufficient nominators, and committed other procedural irregularities.
Meanwhile, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Hon. Ocen Julius, representing Kaperebyong, has publicly rejected allegations that he withdrew from the race voluntarily.
NUP accused authorities of attempting to coerce Julius through arrests and bribery, claiming, “Having failed to buy him, they recently arrested him in the hope that he would give in. They started approaching him repeatedly with bribe offers, but he refused. Now they’re manufacturing stories.”
The developments come amid rising tensions within Uganda’s political landscape as candidates and opposition parties continue to challenge the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.
