Africa-Press – Uganda. Mugabe, often referred to as ‘Omutembuzi’ (Beginner – for being the first district leader after it was established), previously ran for the district chairpersonship during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries in 2021.
Robert Mugabe, the former interim chairperson of Kitagwenda, has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 parliamentary elections, seeking to secure the Member of Parliament seat for Kitagwenda County.
Mugabe, often referred to as ‘Omutembuzi’ (Beginner – for being the first district leader after it was established), previously ran for the district chairpersonship during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries in 2021.
However, his campaign was marred by controversy, as accusations of academic document forgery led to his disqualification by the Electoral Commission, which cited the cancellation of his UNEB academic papers due to these allegations.
In a significant turn of events, the Kamwenge Chief Magistrates’ Court dismissed the forgery charges against Mugabe in May 2023, stating there was insufficient evidence to support the claims. The court noted that the complainants failed to appear during hearings.
Mugabe is set to graduate on October 25, 2024, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Public Administration from Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara.
In a recent phone interview, he expressed his determination to run for the Kitagwenda County parliamentary seat on the NRM ticket for the 2026-2030 term.
With his legal troubles behind him, he believes his academic credentials are no longer in question.
“No case against me now should stop me from aspiring for any seat because the court dismissed the forgery charges against me. On October 25, I will be graduating in Social Work and Social Administration,” Mugabe stated.
To address concerns about his academic qualifications, Mugabe enrolled in an adult mature entry program at Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale, in late 2021.
“The public questioned my academic documents, claiming I did not complete Primary Seven, which led to my previous disqualification. I had to pursue mature entry to clear that,” he explained.
Mugabe faces competition in his bid for the parliamentary seat, with at least four other candidates, including the incumbent Hon. Nulu Byamukama, also expressing interest. This election is shaping up to be highly contested.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has commenced preparations for the elections, including reorganising polling stations nationwide to ensure that voters can conveniently cast their ballots.
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