The parliamentary contest for Nakawa Division West has taken a dramatic twist after candidate Ivan Bwowe lodged a formal petition against the Electoral Commission (EC), alleging that seven of his rivals were nominated in a constituency that legally does not exist. In his sworn affidavit dated November 6, 2025, Bwowe contends that the EC only gazetted Nakawa Division West for the 2025–2026 elections, yet other aspirants were cleared to run under Nakawa West—a name he insists is non-existent in the legal framework.
Bwowe’s petition names Happy Nasasira, Herbert Anderson Burora, Felix Ephraim Okuye, Vincent Norbert Okumu, Joel Besekezi Ssenyonyi, Wilberforce Kyambadde, and Apuuli Rwamiti as the candidates allegedly nominated under the wrong constituency. He claims to have obtained certified copies of their nomination forms showing the phrase “Nakawa West,” while his own documents reflect the official name “Nakawa Division West.” Bwowe argues that this discrepancy invalidates their nominations and leaves him as the sole legitimate candidate.
Citing Section 19(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, Bwowe has asked the EC to declare him unopposed, claiming that all other nominations are null and void. He further accuses the Commission of failing to verify constituency names carefully during the nomination process, which he believes has created unnecessary confusion.
However, one of the accused aspirants, Herbert Anderson Burora, dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Burora insisted that the EC thoroughly vetted and stamped all nomination documents. He argued that if any clerical mistake occurred, the responsibility lies with the EC, not the candidates, adding that Bwowe should “take his battle to the Commission, not his fellow aspirants.”
The unfolding saga has thrown the Nakawa Division West race into disarray, amplifying tensions in what was already one of Kampala’s most hotly contested constituencies. With several strong contenders from different political parties, the outcome of the petition could dramatically reshape the electoral landscape if the EC rules in Bwowe’s favor.
As of now, the Electoral Commission has not issued any public statement on the matter, though internal sources confirm the petition was received and logged by the Security Registry on November 6. Analysts predict the Commission’s eventual decision will either calm the storm or ignite an even deeper political and legal confrontation.
Observers say the dispute highlights just how crucial accuracy and transparency are in Uganda’s electoral system. Mislabeling or administrative oversights, they warn, can easily spiral into legitimacy crises, especially in politically active urban areas like Kampala.
Meanwhile, social media has become a battleground for competing narratives. Bwowe’s supporters have rallied behind his claims, demanding accountability from the EC, while rival camps accuse him of seeking an easy path to Parliament through legal technicalities rather than popular mandate.
Legal experts anticipate that if the EC fails to resolve the matter conclusively, it could escalate to court, setting a precedent for how similar disputes over constituency names and nominations are handled in future elections.
For now, the political temperature in Nakawa Division West remains high. Whether the petition results in disqualifications, re-nominations, or a reaffirmation of all candidates, the case has already captured national attention—illustrating the razor-thin line between administrative error and political controversy in Uganda’s electoral arena.
