The race for Njumaga Cell chairperson in Masaka City has effectively ended after the Electoral Commission cancelled the nomination of the National Resistance Movement candidate over his status as a serving public officer.
Augustine Mukasa Luswata was removed from the race after the commission confirmed that he remains employed by the Uganda Prisons Service at Masaka Main Prison.
Masaka City Returning Officer Joloba Hydary said the nomination was irregular because electoral laws prohibit serving public officers from contesting elections before resigning from government service.
“As a public officer, the law does not allow you to hold two public offices at the same time,” the commission’s letter states.
The complaint leading to Luswata’s disqualification was filed by the incumbent chairperson, Pellegrino Bikanyulo, who is contesting under the National Unity Platform ticket.
Bikanyulo is now the only candidate remaining in the contest.
Luswata declined requests for comment.
A separate petition before the Electoral Commission seeks to block NRM candidate Deogratias Mulindwa from contesting for chairperson of Mutuba-Musisi Gardens Cell.
His challenger, NUP’s Mathias Bwanika, says Mulindwa is already serving as Older Persons’ Councillor on the Nyendo-Mukungwe Division Council, making him ineligible to seek another elected office.
“I therefore request that he be disqualified since he was sworn in on 19th May 2026, as the attached oath of allegiance witnessed by the Masaka Chief Magistrate,” Bwanika states in his petition.
Mulindwa defended his candidature, saying he joined the race after repeated requests from local residents and believes no law prevents him from holding both offices.
The Electoral Commission has confirmed receipt of the petition and says a decision will be communicated before the end of the week.
The commission said the forthcoming local council elections drew 950 candidates for women’s council positions and 588 for village chairperson seats, with hundreds already declared unopposed.
