Renowned Kadongo Kamu musician Mathias Walukaga’s long-nurtured ambition to represent Busiro East in Parliament has suffered a devastating blow after the High Court firmly shut down his legal challenge against the Electoral Commission (EC), citing lack of valid academic qualifications.
In a ruling that underscores the unforgiving nature of Uganda’s electoral laws, the court held that Walukaga did not possess the legally required academic documents at the time of nomination, effectively freezing his parliamentary ambitions for the next five years.
Walukaga’s political troubles began when the EC disqualified him from contesting, arguing that his academic papers were invalid.
The decision stunned many of his supporters, especially within the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party, where Walukaga had been touted as a strong grassroots mobiliser whose music had long resonated with themes of social justice and political struggle.
Encouraged by assurances from NUP Secretary General Lewis Rubongoya and other party officials that his documentation was in order, a visibly disgruntled Walukaga petitioned the High Court, hoping the judiciary would overturn the EC’s decision and clear his path to the ballot ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Instead, the court delivered a crushing verdict.
It was an expired certificate, can’t support your election bid
In a detailed judgment delivered on December 21, 2025, Justice Simon Peter M. Kinobe ruled that Walukaga had relied on an expired academic certificate at the time of nomination.
Under the law, the court emphasized, such a certificate cannot support a legitimate parliamentary bid.
“An expired certificate cannot support a valid nomination,” Justice Kinobe ruled, adding that Walukaga “did not have a valid academic qualification at the time of nomination” and that the Electoral Commission “acted lawfully in disqualifying him.”
The court dismissed Walukaga’s argument that his Mature Age certificate, previously equated to A-Level by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), remained valid after he enrolled for further studies.
Justice Kinobe agreed with the EC’s position that the law limits the validity of a Mature Age certificate to two years, regardless of subsequent university admission.
He further held that the EC has the clear mandate to assess and verify candidates’ academic qualifications, and that a university letter cannot override statutory requirements.
Interestingly, while dismissing the petition, the judge declined to award legal costs to the respondents.
He noted that the case raised an important public interest question that had not been conclusively tested in Uganda’s legal system.
Each party was therefore ordered to bear its own costs.
Walukaga’s nomination had originally been cancelled following a petition by a registered voter, a reminder that in Uganda’s increasingly contested political terrain, rivals and citizens alike are quick to scrutinize candidates’ eligibility.
Celebrity Politics Meets Legal Reality
Walukaga’s case highlights the growing tension between celebrity-driven politics and the rigid demands of electoral law. Like several artists-turned-politicians before him, Walukaga sought to translate popularity and cultural influence into political capital.
But the court’s ruling serves as a stark reminder that fame, party backing, and public sympathy cannot substitute for compliance with legal requirements.
For now, Walukaga’s political journey has hit a pause button. Unless the law changes or he regularizes his academic credentials in time, the Kadongo Kamu star will have to wait another electoral cycle before attempting a return to the political stage.
