The Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, led Electoral Commission has deferred the nomination of Conservative Party’s Elton Joseph Mabirizi as a candidate for the 2026 Presidential race to a later time after some of his academic documents were found not to be certified.
According to the commission, while scrutinizing his documents, it found that Mabirizi had submitted a Master’s Degree qualification which was not certified by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE).
Mabirizi, who is also a former presidential candidate in the 2016 elections has been advised to go to NCHE for certification and return with the certified copies of his documents to get nominated.
While addressing reporters after the incident, Justice Simon Byabakama noted that Mabirizi has the right to return to the commission for nomination after sorting out his academic papers.
“We have guided him (Joseph Mabirizi) to go back and sort out that issue. Once it is sorted, he’s at liberty to come, and we shall afford him another opportunity to try and get nominated” he said.
So far, only President Yoweri Museveni has been declared as the first duly nominated Presidential candidate for the 2026 elections.
President Museveni, was accompanied by First Lady Janet Museveni arrived at the Electoral Commission Lweza offices on schedule for the 10am nomination where he was welcomed bythe party’s top leaders including Speaker Anita Among and PM Robinah Nabbanja among others.
Justice Byabakama declared Museveni a candidate after scrutinizing his academic documents and nomination papers.
