The Electoral Commission has disqualified Christopher Ategeka, the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate for Buyanja County, challenging long-serving MP and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija.
According to the EC, the trouble started when three supporters listed on Ategeka’s nomination forms could not be verified as registered voters in Buyanja County, contrary to the Parliamentary Elections Act.
The Commission says after the Returning Officer rejected the names, Ategeka allegedly whitewashed them and replaced them with new ones — Nkuuna David, Byamukama Joseph, and Kiirabo Vicent — but without corresponding signatures.
During hearings held on November 23 and December 4, Ategeka admitted changing the names but insisted the listed supporters had indeed signed the forms.
However, in a ruling signed by EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, the Commission said while names, villages, and NINs were altered, the original signatures remained untouched — meaning they belonged to different people.
“This implies that the existing signatures were for the whitewashed names,” the ruling stated.
The EC concluded that Ategeka failed to comply with the law and declared his nomination void under Section 30(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
The decision sparked immediate backlash from NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, who accused the Commission of political interference.
In a fiery post on X, Bobi Wine claimed Ategeka was punished after refusing an alleged Shs300 million bribe to step down for Minister Kasaija.
“They brought him numerous offers — up to 300 million shillings cash — to step down for the minister and he refused,” Bobi Wine wrote.
BYABAKAMA has, once again, denominated the @NUP_Ug candidate for Buyanja County, Ategeka Christopher, who has been running against Museveni’s Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija. This, after they brought him numerous offers – up to 300 million shillings cash, to step down for the… pic.twitter.com/DwdXxjSpO6
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) December 27, 2025
