For many supporters of Budiope East Member of Parliament Eng. Moses Magogo, Christmas came early this year. Just days into the festive season, the Electoral Commission annulled the parliamentary nomination of his strongest challenger, Mulilire Daniel, a decision that has since plunged the Buyende District constituency into political uncertainty, anger, and violence.
The ruling, delivered under case MIN. COMP 058/2025, followed a complaint by a voter, Yeko Ibrahim, who challenged Mulilire’s eligibility on technical grounds. According to the complaint, Mulilire failed to present proof of resignation from government service at the time of his nomination, a legal requirement under Section 4(4)(a) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama agreed, nullifying Mulilire’s nomination and overturning the Returning Officer’s earlier decision to clear him to contest. Legally sound or not, the ruling landed heavily on an already tense political landscape.
In Budiope East, politics is never just about paperwork.
A Constituency with a Long Memory
Mulilire’s rise in the race has been swift. A political newcomer, he gained momentum after Geoffrey Dhamuzungu, former MP and longtime rival of Magogo, bowed out following a bruising and violent NRM primary contest earlier this year. Dhamuzungu’s supporters, disillusioned but politically restless, are widely believed to have regrouped around Mulilire.
That realignment altered the political equation in a constituency where grudges run deep and elections are fiercely contested. Mulilire’s disqualification therefore did not simply remove a candidate; it disrupted an emerging political force.
Allegations, Suspicion, and the Shadow of Power
Almost immediately, murmurs of bias spread across the constituency. Some voters accused the Electoral Commission of acting under political influence, pointing to the fact that Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, wife to Magogo, is one of the most powerful figures in government. While no evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims, the perception alone has fueled resentment and distrust among sections of the electorate.
Mulilire has since taken the matter to court, with a hearing set for 30 December 2025. The court’s ruling, expected within days after the hearing, will likely determine whether the political temperature cools, or further escalates.
When Politics Turns Violent
The consequences of the Commission’s decision were felt almost immediately on the ground.
On 26 December 2025, according to police, violence broke out at Miru Trading Centre in Kagulu Sub-county. According to police, supporters of both Magogo and Mulilire clashed following news of Mulilire’s disqualification. The unrest quickly spilled into nearby Kasokoso and Bumpanga villages, where improvised shrines were torched and several people injured.
By the following day, retaliatory attacks had displaced residents, forcing families to flee their homes in fear.
Busoga North Police spokesperson Samson Lubega confirmed that security forces were swiftly deployed, including the FFU Zonal Commander and the Buyende District Police Commander. Three suspects have since been arrested, statements recorded from victims, and patrols intensified across the affected areas.
Beyond enforcement, police have turned to community policing and dialogue in a bid to calm tempers in a constituency where emotions are running high.
An Election Still in the Balance
As the festive season fades, Budiope East remains on edge. At the heart of the crisis lies a familiar Ugandan dilemma: where the letter of the law collides with political loyalty, power, and public perception.
Whether the courts will reinstate Mulilire, or affirm his disqualification, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the contest for Budiope East has already left blood spilled long before ballots are cast.
