The Electoral Commission (EC) has upheld the nomination of candidates vying for the Nakawa Division West parliamentary seat, dismissing a petition by lawyer and political aspirant Ivan Bwowe, who insisted that several contenders had been nominated under a “non-existent constituency.”

The ruling, delivered under MIN. COMP 042/2025, affirmed the Returning Officer’s decision and rejected Bwowe’s request to nullify the nominations. EC Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon stated that the complaint “had no merit and is hereby dismissed,” adding that the Kampala Returning Officer and the affected candidates had already been notified.

Bwowe’s petition, received on November 6, 2025, challenged the eligibility of candidates including Joel Besekezi Ssenyonyi, Happy Nasasira, Herbert Anderson Burora, Felix Ephraim Okuye, Vincent Norbert Okumu, Wilberforce Kyambadde, and Rwamiti Apuuli. In one version of his filing, he argued that they had been nominated for “Nakawa West,” which he claimed did not appear among officially gazetted constituencies. He maintained that only Nakawa Division West exists in law, asserting: “I am a validly nominated candidate for the constituency of Nakawa Division West, having fulfilled all legal requirements on October 23, 2025.”

He also alleged inconsistencies in voter registration and campaign programme submissions, insisting that the irregularities invalidated the other candidates’ nominations and entitled him to be declared unopposed under Section 19(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.

However, the Commission found otherwise. Records presented during the review showed that all aspirants signed a Control Form carrying the correct constituency name and submitted campaign schedules covering the same geographical area. The EC noted that the interchangeable use of “Nakawa West” and “Nakawa Division West” also appeared in Bwowe’s own documents, including campaign posters tabled during the hearing. According to the Commission, any clerical errors had been resolved during the programme-harmonisation meeting of October 31, well before the petition was lodged.

With the EC’s determination that “the complaint had no merit,” all nominated contenders including Bwowe himself remain in the race for the 2026 polls.

Reacting to the verdict, incumbent MP Joel Ssenyonyi welcomed the outcome, saying: “The petition against me and the other candidates in Nakawa West has been dismissed for lack of merit. The PFF candidate should focus on campaigning on the ground, shortcuts won’t work.”

The decision clears the way for what is expected to be a competitive contest in Nakawa Division West as the general elections draw closer.