By KT Reporter
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer for the Bukedea District Woman Parliamentary seat, Norma Susan Otai, has expressed deep mistrust in the Electoral Commission tribunal, accusing it of bias and unfairness in handling her petition over her failed nomination.
Otai, who appeared before the tribunal chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama on Tuesday evening, said she had no confidence that the Commission would deliver justice in her case. She is seeking the nullification of the unopposed candidature of Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and an extension of the nomination period to allow her to contest in the January 2026 general elections.
“If the Electoral Commission does not grant me justice as a Ugandan, it will put its image in disrepute,” Otai said after her appearance. “My prayer was that the unopposed notion be nullified and that I be nominated here in Kampala, not in Bukedea; that chaotic place full of security operatives,” She added.
Otai’s petition stems from the events of October 23, 2025, when opposition candidates attempting to contest for the Bukedea Woman MP seat were reportedly barred from accessing the district nomination centre. The candidates accuse police and electoral officials of blocking them and violating their constitutional right to stand for election.
Before the hearing, Otai told journalists at the EC offices in Kampala that she had fulfilled all the requirements for nomination but was unjustly turned away.
“I meet all the qualifications. I am a Ugandan citizen, a registered voter, I possess the minimum academic requirement, and I paid the nomination fees. Why then would the Electoral Commission not nominate me?” she asked.
During the tribunal session, Charles Mugyenyi, the Bukedea District Returning Officer, reportedly denied seeing Otai at the nomination centre. Otai, however, insists she was present and that her phone, containing his contact, had been confiscated by security operatives that day.
“They asked why I never reported the case. But how could I report to the same policemen who chased me? There is no justice,” she lamented.
Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi confirmed that the FDC flag bearer had formally presented her petition but said he could not discuss details of the hearing.
“The Commission listened to her, asked her to present evidence of her complaints, and also heard from the Returning Officer. The next step is for the Commission to review the evidence and communicate its decision in writing,” Mucunguzi said. He noted that the decision would likely be issued within two days, given that ballot paper production is imminent.
The Electoral Commission began hearing parliamentary nomination petitions on Monday, following the nationwide nomination exercise held on October 22-23, 2025. The Commission has so far received over 50 petitions, with 39 heard in the first two days.
According to EC data, 2,711 candidates were successfully nominated for the 519 parliamentary seats, including 353 directly elected MPs, 146 District Woman Representatives, 20 Special Interest Group seats, and 10 UPDF representatives. Campaigns are set to begin on November 10, 2025, ahead of the January 2026 elections.
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