Independent aspirant Turyatemba Fred Washabi has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of unfairly disqualifying him from the Mawogola West Parliamentary race, claiming the process was marred by corruption and irregularities.
Washabi, who was contesting as an independent candidate, was turned away by the Sembabule District Electoral Commission after failing to meet the required number of nominators. According to the EC, he had only four supporters instead of the mandatory ten.
However, Washabi disputed the EC’s explanation, accusing the officials of deliberately frustrating his nomination.
“The Commission deliberately refused to nominate me,” he said.
“When I arrived for nomination, some people approached me asking for money to allow me through, but I refused. That’s why they blocked me,” Washabi alleged.
The aspirant said his disappointment grew after meeting the Sembabule District Returning Officer, Gracious Airigye, who reportedly asked him to return later, even though he had already been cleared for nomination.
He further claimed that the rejection was not accidental, describing it as a calculated move to deny him participation in the election.
“This was a planned act of injustice. Even when my documents were stolen earlier, God helped me recover and prepare again. I know God will fight for me,” he said.
Washabi also alleged that corruption within the Sembabule EC office has reached alarming levels, claiming it played a major role in his disqualification.
He expressed frustration that the constituency he intended to represent, Mawogola West, is grappling with numerous challenges—especially in education—which he had hoped to address through Parliament.
> “They may have blocked my nomination, but they will still hear my voice,” he warned.