Kajara County’s Parliamentary race is already intensifying after Ahabwe Venancious of the People’s Freedom Forum (PFF) petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to nullify the nomination of NRM flag bearer James Hunter Byenjeru Tukahirwa.
Ahabwe cites a 2022 Leadership Code Tribunal ruling on alleged abuse of government property, arguing it constitutes conduct involving dishonesty and moral turpitude, which makes Tukahirwa ineligible under Section 4(2)(f) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
"In 2022 there was a unanimous ruling by the leadership court tribunal in Kampala on illegal and abuse of government property," Ahabwe said.
“Even if I was not contesting, and this document came into my knowledge, and it involves someone contesting, I would still say no, he can't contest.”
He added that the EC must act decisively. “My expectation is that the electoral commission does the required action, nullify and disqualify this candidate from contesting.”
His petition references penalties including payment of Shs22.5 million, return of government property, and demotion—measures he argues violate the Leadership Code and disqualify Tukahirwa from public office.
Tukahirwa dismissed the petition as political maneuvering, emphasizing that the ruling was administrative and had no criminal implications.
"I don't want the people to take that petition serious. The tribunal is just for administration. When I was still a social servant, I was asked about whether I used the vehicles as I was a transport officer," Tukahirwa said.
"For the cases I was accused of, I was just lowered to a lower rank. That tribunal is not a court of jurisdiction. I didn't have a criminal case. It was just administrative and it ended.
A tribunal has no powers. There were no recommendations, no demotions were made. The penalty that was made was later taken up by events because I had already retired, so it was not effective."
Meanwhile, Tukahirwa faces two independent candidates: Davison Kaijuka and Deus Muhwezi.
