The Electoral Commission (EC) has annulled the nomination of Ategeka Christopher as a parliamentary candidate for Buyanja County in Kibaale District, following a complaint challenging the validity of his nomination papers ahead of the 2026 general elections.
In a decision issued under Minute COMP/058/2025, the Commission ruled that Ategeka failed to comply with Section 28(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177. As a result, his nomination was declared void under Section 30(a) of the same law.
The ruling stems from a petition contesting Ategeka’s nomination, which took place on 23 October 2025, as he sought to challenge the incumbent Buyanja County Member of Parliament and Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija.
The petitioner alleged that three supporters listed on Ategeka’s nomination forms were not registered voters in Buyanja County and that their names were later altered without corresponding signatures.
During hearings held on 23 November and 4 December 2025, Ategeka admitted to replacing the three names, saying he acted on advice from the Returning Officer. He, however, maintained that the substitute supporters had duly signed the nomination papers.
After reviewing submissions from both parties and the Returning Officer’s report, the Commission observed that while the names, villages, and National Identification Numbers (NINs) on the forms had been altered, the signatures remained unchanged. The Commission concluded that the signatures belonged to the originally listed individuals and not the substituted supporters.
Consequently, the Commission found that Ategeka’s nomination process did not comply with electoral laws and declared it invalid.
The decision was signed by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi.
Despite the ruling, National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi has maintained that Ategeka lawfully secured the required support and has criticised the Commission’s decision, describing it as unfair.
