If the Electoral Commission Tribunal upholds a series of petitions filed against his opponents, Budiope East County MP Moses Magogo may become one of the candidates to return to the 12th Parliament unchallenged.

The complaints, submitted by four voters, Humaru Waiswa, Mandella Jackson, Ibrahim Yeeko, and Ayubu Baliise, through Alaka & Company Advocates, target four individuals seeking to run against Magogo: Stephen Bagalana, Resty Nsiro, Daniel Mulire, and Robinson Peere.

Waiswa’s petition argues that NRM-leaning aspirant Stephen Bagalana did not secure the legally required number of nominators. Section 10(1)(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) states that independent candidates must present not fewer than 10 registered voters from their constituency as seconders.

In a separate case, Mandella Jackson accuses independent hopeful Resty Nsiro of forging signatures of ten purported nominators. Tribunal officials report that several alleged signatories have already testified, denying that they endorsed Nsiro. By press time, Nsiro had ignored summonses issued on 17 and 20 November 2025 and had yet to appear before the Tribunal.

Another challenge concerns NRM member Daniel Mulire, who competed against Magogo in the party primaries. According to petitioner Yeeko, Mulire is currently serving in the police force and failed to resign his position at least six months before nomination. This, Yeeko argues, violates Article 80(4) of the Constitution and Section 4(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which prohibit public officers from engaging in partisan politics without first relinquishing their roles. Mulire has been summoned to appear before the Tribunal to respond.

A fourth petition, filed by Ayubu Baliise, targets independent candidate Robinson Peere, citing irregularities in his nomination process. EC sources reveal that Peere appeared before the Tribunal but later withdrew his candidacy, reducing the number of competitors.

Magogo, who also heads the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and serves on the CAF Executive Committee, won the NRM primary by a wide margin, collecting 63,758 votes. His closest competitor, Geofrey Dhamuzungu, garnered 15,177, while Mulire received 212. Magogo previously represented the constituency in the 2021–2026 term and secured the 2025–2029 NRM flag unopposed on 5 July 2025.

His personal assistant, Hassan Kirunda, expressed optimism about the outcome of the ongoing petitions. He said several of the challenged candidates “have failed to appear while others have voluntarily stepped down,” adding, “We are confident that Eng. Magogo will be declared unopposed.”

The EC Tribunal led by Justice Simon Byabakama is currently reviewing more than 100 complaints related to nominations for presidential, parliamentary, and local government seats ahead of the 2026 general elections. EC Deputy Spokesperson Paul Bukenya noted that additional petitions continue to come in and pledged that each case will be handled lawfully and impartially.

To date, ten candidates have already secured unopposed victories and await swearing-in as members of the 12th Parliament. Those confirmed include Anita Among (Bukedea Woman MP), Thomas Tayebwa (Ruhinda North), Ofwono Opondo (Older Persons), Lillian Paparu (Arua Woman MP), Catherine Akumu Mavenjina (Older Persons), Ruth Rujoki (Kiruhura Woman MP), and Emely Kugonza (Buyanja East).

Others who have also gone through unopposed are Peggy Joy Waako (National Female Representative for Older Persons), Jeniva Nalongo Arianaitwe (Rubirizi Woman MP), Banya Emmanuel Natal (Koboko County MP), Boniface Okot (Northern Region Youth MP), and Laura Kanushu Opori (National Representative for Persons with Disabilities).

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