By BigEyeUg Team
The Electoral Commission (EC) has officially declared Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development, Phiona Nyamutoro, the unopposed Woman Member of Parliament for Nebbi District in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
The announcement follows the nullification of the nomination of her only challenger, Mercy Rebecca Abedican, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer.
According to a letter dated November 13, 2025, and signed by EC Chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the decision came after a petition filed on November 4, 2025, by Signature Advocates, which challenged the authenticity of Abedican’s nomination documents.
Following the petition, the EC conducted an interpartes hearing on November 7, 2025 to investigate the allegations. During the session, the Commission examined affidavits submitted by two individuals—Godfrey Ongiera and Jimmy Bediic—whose signatures and personal details had allegedly been used to endorse Abedican’s nomination.
Both men appeared before the Commission and firmly denied supporting Abedican, insisting that they had never signed any documents for her. Their testimonies formed a critical part of the evidence that led to the Commission’s ruling.
In his affidavit, Ongiera further informed the EC that he is a registered member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the party that endorsed Phiona Nyamutoro. He argued that it would be illogical for him to support a candidate from the opposition NUP, reinforcing the claim that his signature may have been forged.
With Abedican’s nomination deemed invalid, the EC confirmed Phiona Nyamutoro as the unopposed candidate for the Nebbi Woman MP seat. This effectively guarantees her place in the 12th Parliament, pending the general swearing-in ceremony after the 2026 elections.