The Electoral Commission has disqualified Arnold Ankunda Best, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) candidate in the Isingiro North County parliamentary race and left incumbent MP and NRM flag bearer Bright Rwamirama with only one challenger, Anthony Rutahwire of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).
In a letter signed by EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, the Commission ruled that Ankunda failed to meet the legal nomination requirements after securing only nine valid supporters instead of the required ten.
According to the EC, this violated Section 28(1)(c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, automatically rendering his nomination invalid.
The decision followed a petition filed by Edgar Agaba and Stella Naiga, registered voters in Masha Sub-County, who accused Ankunda of using their names and signatures on his nomination forms without consent.
The Commission said both petitioners appeared before it and denied signing or endorsing Ankunda’s nomination papers.
Justice Byabakama noted that although Ankunda presented evidence, including a phone conversation allegedly involving one of the petitioners, it could not be verified and was therefore dismissed.
PFF Ankole region coordinator Stanley Katembeya said the disqualification did not surprise him, accusing the EC of clearing the way for NRM candidates to cruise unchallenged.
ANT’s Rutahwire called the decision unfortunate but said it boosts his chances of defeating Rwamirama in the January 15, 2026 polls.
