Kampala, Uganda: A group of Makerere University students has petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to disqualify their Guild President, Ssentamu Churchill James; a nephew to National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), from the race for Central Region Youth Member of Parliament, accusing him of forging signatures during his nomination.
The petition, filed this week through lawyer Namakajo Deric Fredric, alleges that Ssentamu, who is contesting as an independent candidate, submitted falsified nomination forms containing names and signatures of students who never endorsed his candidature.
“We were shocked to see our names appear on his list of endorsers, yet we never signed or consented to support his candidature,” Namakajo told DailyExpress. “This is an abuse of the nomination process, and we want the Electoral Commission to take action and remove him from the race.”
In their petition, the students accuse Ssentamu of forgery and impersonation, offences they say contravene Uganda’s electoral laws and undermine the credibility of youth elections.
The petitioners argue that such conduct violates Section 76 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, which criminalizes the falsification of documents submitted to the Electoral Commission.
They further demand that the EC authenticate all signatures and identification details attached to Ssentamu’s nomination papers, and if found guilty, impose disciplinary sanctions or cancel his candidature entirely.
EC Confirms Receipt of Petition
When contacted, the Electoral Commission confirmed receipt of the complaint and said it will review the allegations before determining the candidate’s eligibility to remain in the race.
“We have received a petition regarding the Central Region Youth MP race and will examine the evidence submitted before taking a position,” EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi is quoted to have told NilePost in a phone interview.
The commission’s investigation will likely involve a forensic verification of signatures and statements from the petitioners, as well as a written response from Ssentamu or his legal representatives.
Efforts to reach Churchill Ssentamu for comment were unsuccessful. However, sources close to his campaign maintain that the allegations are politically motivated, arguing that the petition is part of an attempt to discredit his growing popularity among youth voters in the Central region.
Ssentamu, a prominent Makerere student leader, is running as an independent candidate, despite being a known relative of Bobi Wine and an active member of the youth movement that backed the opposition in the 2021 general elections.
Youth Political Race Heats Up
The race for Central Region Youth Member of Parliament has drawn heightened attention, with several youthful candidates vying to represent young people in Parliament under the National Youth Council framework.
Analysts say the petition against Ssentamu, if proven, could not only derail his campaign but also set a major precedent for accountability in youth elections, which have often been marred by irregularities and weak oversight.
The EC is expected to announce its decision in the coming days after completing a formal review of the petition and verifying the authenticity of the contested nomination forms.
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