The High Court in Iganga has nullified the election of Nankwanga Stella Maris as Woman Member of Parliament for Bugweri District, declaring her first runner-up, Aminah Mutesi Nalugoda, the duly elected representative.
In a judgment delivered on November 13, 2026, Justice Simon Peter Kinobe ruled that Nankwanga did not possess or present the required academic qualifications at the time of her nomination, making her election invalid.
The court found that the Post Basic Diploma in Public Health submitted by Nankwanga during the nomination process did not establish that she met the academic requirements for parliamentary candidature. It further noted that the corrected Diploma in Public Health was issued after the nomination exercise, raising questions about whether she had the necessary qualifications when she was cleared to contest.
The ruling overturns the January 15, 2026 election results, in which Nankwanga emerged victorious with 15,151 votes against Aminah Mutesi Nalugoda’s 13,683 votes.
With the court declaring Nalugoda the duly elected Woman MP for Bugweri District, the decision marks a significant political development in the district and raises broader questions about the verification of academic documents during electoral nomination processes.
The case also highlights the importance of candidates meeting all constitutional and electoral requirements before being cleared to contest for public office, particularly academic qualifications, which remain a key legal requirement for parliamentary candidates.
The ruling is likely to attract further attention to the role of the Electoral Commission in verifying candidates’ academic credentials before elections, as well as the legal consequences of presenting qualifications that do not meet the required standards.
