Kioga County’s parliamentary contest has taken a dramatic turn after Independent candidate Col (Rtd) Dr. John Francis Ongia formally petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to nullify the nomination of Felix Adupa Ongwech, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer, over alleged academic fraud.
Ongia, through his lawyers GDE Advocates, claims that Adupa submitted a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Diploma in ICT, purportedly from the University of Nairobi—qualifications the university has reportedly disowned during verification inquiries.
Further investigations by Ongia’s legal team revealed discrepancies in Adupa’s secondary school records. According to the team, checks with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and Bombo Senior Secondary Schoolindicated that Adupa did not sit for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) using the index number he presented for nomination.
“Our client also sought verification from Bombo Senior Secondary School, and the head teacher denied that Mr. Adupa was ever a candidate at the school,” GDE Advocates said
The controversy deepens an already competitive five-way race for the Kioga County parliamentary seat. The contest features NRM flagbearer Felix Adupa Ongwech, Independent candidate Col (Rtd) Dr. John Francis Ongia, incumbent FDC MP Moses Junior Bitek Okot, UPC candidate Collins Angwech Otim, and Independent candidate Carlos Opul. Each contender brings a unique political profile to what has become one of the region’s most closely watched electoral battles.
Before reaching the EC, Ongia and fellow aspirant Carlos Opul had jointly petitioned the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal, contesting Adupa’s victory in the July 17, 2025 NRM primaries.
Adupa won the primaries with 3,960 votes, narrowly surpassing both challengers, a result that immediately drew scrutiny from his opponents.
The petitioners alleged widespread irregularities in the primaries, including delayed transmission of results from Agwingiri Sub-county and the alleged manipulation of tallies by local returning officers.
They further questioned Adupa’s academic qualifications and personal conduct, arguing that these concerns undermined the credibility of his nomination.
Adupa’s legal team dismissed the petitions on procedural grounds, pointing to late submissions and missing affidavits, and argued that the accusations lacked legal merit. Adupa also presented a certified UACE certificate, which he insisted satisfies both NRM and national electoral academic requirements. He strongly denied all allegations, describing the petition as “baseless, defective, and devoid of merit.”
On August 19, 2025, the NRM Election Disputes Tribunal ruled in Adupa’s favor, citing a lack of supporting evidence for the alleged electoral malpractice.
In its ruling, the tribunal noted that there were no original DR forms, tally sheets, or affidavits from polling agents to substantiate claims of vote discrepancies. The tribunal further confirmed that Adupa’s certified UACE certificate meets the necessary academic standards, effectively clearing him to stand as the NRM candidate.
However, Ongia’s new petition before the Electoral Commission reignites the controversy, placing the spotlight once again on the integrity of the candidate’s academic record.
With the January 15, 2025 General Election fast approaching, the EC’s impending decision is expected to significantly influence the political landscape in Kioga County. Should the Commission uphold the petition, the race could be dramatically reshaped; if dismissed, Adupa’s candidacy will proceed strengthened by yet another legal victory.