The Electoral Commission has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination of several candidates contesting for the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat in Kampala.
In a decision dated 21st November 2025, communicated to Bwowe Ivan of the Peoples Front for Freedom, the Commission ruled that his complaint, filed under Article 61(1)(f) of the Constitution and Section 15 of the Electoral Commission Act (Cap. 176), lacked merit and therefore stood dismissed.
Bwowe had petitioned the Commission challenging the nomination of seven candidates:
- Nasasira Happy
- Okuye Felix Ephraim
- Okumu Vincent Norbert
- Ssenyonyi Joel Besekezi
- Kyambadde Wilberforce
- Burora Herbert Anderson
- Rwamiti Apuuli
He argued that there were irregularities relating to the constituency name indicated on their nomination documents, contrasting “Nakawa West” with the correct name, “Nakawa Division West”.
Following a hearing held on Monday, November 10, 2025, where both Bwowe and lawyers representing the respondents made submissions, the Commission made several key findings:
- Constituency Name on Nomination Papers
The Commission observed that while some respondents filled in their nomination papers using the name “Nakawa West” and Mr Bwowe used “Nakawa Division West”, all candidates, including the complainant, signed Control Forms which correctly reflected the constituency name as Nakawa Division West. - Campaign Schedules in the Same Area
It was further noted that the campaign programmes submitted by all candidates showed that they intended to campaign in the same geographical area of Nakawa Division West, only on different dates. - Error Already Corrected Before Petition
The Commission stated that the campaign programme for Nakawa Division West was harmonised by all participating candidates and their agents before the Returning Officer, Kampala, by October 31, 2025. By the time Bwowe lodged his complaint on November 6, 2025, the error regarding the name of the constituency had already been corrected, and the harmonised programme clearly referred to Nakawa Division West Constituency. - Interchangeable Use of Names by Candidates
The Commission also noted that several candidates, including Mr Bwowe, had themselves used the term “Nakawa West” on campaign materials such as posters, even though the correct name is “Nakawa Division West”. These posters were exhibited during the hearing.
In light of these observations, the Electoral Commission, under minute MIN. COMP 042/2025, resolved that the complaint lacked merit and dismissed it in its entirety.
The Commission therefore upheld the decision of the Returning Officer, Kampala, to nominate all the respondents as validly nominated candidates for the position of directly elected Member of Parliament for Nakawa Division West Constituency.
The decision was signed by Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, and copied to the Returning Officer, Kampala, as well as all the affected candidates.
The incumbent area Member of Parliament who doubles as the Leader of Opposition in the Parliament of Uganda, Joel Ssenyonyi asked the Petitioner Bwowe to simply go on ground and face the voters of Nakawa West, saying that shortcuts will not work for him.
