The Electoral Commission (EC) has defended its controversial decision to uphold the recommendations of local parish tribunals that seek to remove three women contesting the Bukedea District Woman MP seat currently held by Speaker Anita Among.
The high-stakes matter is now before the High Court, with a ruling slated for October 27, 2025.
The petition was initiated by Zipporah Akol, a resident of Bukedea District, who moved to block nominations of Norma Susan Otai (FDC), Marion Alupo Mercy (NUP), and Hellen Akol Odeke (Independent) on grounds that they were not legitimate residents or registered voters of the area they sought to represent.
The EC, through its Acting Secretary Richard Kamugisha Baabo, stated that it reviewed all complaints and found that the parish tribunals had operated within the law in recommending deletions from the register.
As part of its electoral roadmap, the EC conducted a nationwide registration update from January 20 to February 17, 2025, allowing voters to register, verify, or transfer their voting status. The updated register was displayed publicly with a 21-day objection window. Complaints were raised via parish tribunals concerning the origin and residence of the three aspirants.
In Bukedea, parish tribunals recommended deletion of Otai, Alupo, and Odeke on grounds of residence or origin, in objections filed during the registration display period. On October 2, 2025, the EC held a review meeting inviting the three respondents to present counter-evidence. Hellen Odeke withdrew, opting not to challenge tribunal findings.
The EC said that no substantive contrary evidence was provided during the review and that the respondents had adequate 10-day notice for natural justice to be exercised. Consequently, the Commission upheld the deletions.
The registration records attached to the EC’s affidavit confirm that the names of the three aspirants have been removed from the voter rolls.
The three women dispute the deletions. They argue that the EC failed to implement tribunal decisions properly and that they were still campaigning despite the deletions. In earlier related statements, the aspirants questioned whether they would receive a fair hearing from the EC and whether the tribunal’s mandate had expired by the time of deletions.
They also challenged the legitimacy of objections about origin or residence and demanded an explanation for how their names were removed without sufficient recourse.
The High Court has assigned Justice Douglas Kinobe to hear the case. Submissions are to be completed ahead of the October 27, 2025 ruling, which will decide if the three women may proceed to nomination. The outcome may set a precedent regarding the limits of parish tribunal powers, EC review processes, and candidates’ rights to contest under contested voter registration status.
