By Kabuye Ronald
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda has struck out 11 contenders from the Makindye Division mayoral race including NUP Candidate Bosco Lusagala, a decision that leaves National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer Yasin Omari as the sole candidate.
The sweeping disqualifications follow a series of petitions lodged by Omari, in which he challenged the nomination papers of his rivals for allegedly violating key provisions of the electoral laws. After reviewing the complaints, the EC ruled that the affected candidates had failed to meet mandatory nomination requirements.
Central to the EC’s decision was the failure by the disqualified candidates to obtain the legally required minimum of 20 supporting signatures from each parish within Makindye Division. The commission noted that this requirement is intended to demonstrate broad-based local support and seriousness of candidature.
The EC also cited the inclusion of supporters who were not bona fide residents of Makindye Division, describing this as a direct breach of electoral guidelines meant to ensure that candidates and their backers have a genuine connection to the communities they seek to represent.
Among those affected is Lusagala Bosco of the National Unity Platform (NUP), whose disqualification deals a major blow to the party’s efforts to retain control of the strategically important division. NUP currently holds the mayoral seat through Ali Nganda Mulyanyama.
Mulyanyama, however, opted not to seek re-election as division mayor, choosing instead to contest for the Makindye East parliamentary seat on the NUP ticket, a move that had already reshaped the political contest in the area.
With all challengers now out of the race, Yasin Omari stands unopposed and is poised for an easy ascent to the mayor’s office. Barring any last-minute legal challenges, the Electoral Commission is expected to formally declare him the unopposed winner of the Makindye Division mayoral seat.
