At least 16 candidates have been successfully nominated to contest for various parliamentary positions in Mityana District ahead of the forthcoming general elections, according to the District Returning Officer, Charles Rebero.
By 7am, security was visibly tight at the Singo County Headquarters—the official nomination centre—as officers from the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) were deployed to ensure order and safety.
Only candidates, along with their designated nominators and seconders, were allowed entry, while supporters were restricted from accessing the venue.
“We wanted to ensure that the nomination process was conducted peacefully and in line with the Electoral Commission’s guidelines,” said Mr. Rebero.
The exercise began promptly at 9am, with several aspirants arriving early to present their documents. Before proceedings started, the Returning Officer officially opened the session and briefed candidates on electoral regulations and legal requirements.
By the end of the first day, sixteen candidates had been cleared to contest for parliamentary seats across the district.
They include:
- Mityana District Woman MP: Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa (Independent), Mukisa Prossy (NUP)
- Mityana Municipality: Patrick Mugisha Nshimye (Independent), Francis Zaake Butebi (NUP), Dr. Jackson Ssekikubbo Katura (Independent), Grace Nanxige (Independent), Mawejje Godfrey (Independent)
- Busujju Constituency: Mugisha Moses (FDC), David Lukyamuzi Kalwanga (NUP), Nyanzi Vincent (NRM)
- Mityana South: Amos Lutaya (DP), Lumu Richard Kizito (Independent), Nalwoga Kevin (NUP), Byarugaba Henry (Independent)
- Mityana North: Tomusange Isaac (NUP), Nsanze Hezekiah (Independent)
The nominations drew both seasoned politicians and new entrants, all expressing confidence in their ability to lead their constituencies.
Observers said the diversity of candidates—from incumbents to first-timers—sets the stage for one of the most competitive elections in the district’s recent political history.
Mr Rebero confirmed that the day’s exercise had gone smoothly and commended candidates for maintaining discipline.
“We commend all candidates for keeping calm and following the Commission’s rules,” he said. “Those yet to be nominated should come fully prepared to avoid last-minute challenges.”
He also reminded aspirants to ensure that all their nomination documents are complete before the close of the two-day exercise.
The Electoral Commission is expected to announce the official campaign period in the coming days, paving the way for what is expected to be a lively but peaceful campaign season in Mityana District.