High court judge Rogers Kinobe has fixed December 22, 2025, for the delivery of judgment in an appeal challenging the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to cancel the nomination of Mathias Walukagga as a parliamentary candidate for Busiro East.
Walukagga’s nomination was nullified by the EC on grounds that he allegedly failed to meet the minimum academic qualifications required to contest for a seat in parliament.
Justice Kinobe issued strict timelines for the filing of submissions and rejoinders, citing the urgency occasioned by the fast-approaching electoral calendar.
Walukagga, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer, filed the appeal through his lawyers Alex Luganda, Erias Nalukoola, Jonathan Erut, and Aua Napala.
The Electoral Commission is listed as the first respondent, while John Lubowa Kilimiro, the voter who challenged Walukagga’s nomination before the Commission, is the second respondent.
At the commencement of proceedings, lawyers for the Electoral Commission, led by Patrick Wetaka and assisted by Hamidu Lugoloobi told court that the Commission had not been aware of the appeal and only learnt of it through other channels.
Justice Kinobe questioned why the Commission had failed to check the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), where the appeal had been filed. In response, Luganda informed court that the matter had already been fixed for hearing, noting that the summons had only been signed a day earlier and service effected the same day.
Luganda also raised the issue of computation of time, explaining that although the EC’s ruling was dated November 25, Walukagga only received it on December 9. He sought clarification on whether statutory timelines should run from the date of the decision or the date of receipt.
Wetaka said the Commission had no objection, agreeing that time should be computed from the date Walukagga received the ruling. Justice Kinobe ruled that the matter was settled. Lawyer Asuman Nyoyitono, appearing alongside Allan James Mwiiko, requested three days to file a response.
The judge declined and directed all respondents to file their responses by close of business on December 17. Despite objections from Lugoloobi, who argued that the EC was handling multiple election petitions and that the timeline was too tight, Kinobe maintained his position.
