The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has threatened legal action against the Electoral Commission (EC) over a directive requiring presidential, MP, and LC Chairperson candidates to verify their academic qualifications with the Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE) or Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), regardless of where they obtained them.

The party’s EC Chairperson, Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda while addressing the media during the party’s weekly press conference at Najjanankumbi, argued that Section 5 of the Parliamentary Elections Act of 2005 (as amended) does not mandate citizens who obtained their O-Level and A-Level certificates in Uganda to verify or equate their documents with UNCHE or UNEB.

He described the directive as a “reckless” violation of national electoral laws, potentially equivalent to undermining legal frameworks.

“We expect a legal person in the capacity of Justice Byabakama to speak with authority and guidance from the law, but not from the point of lamentations,”Toterebuka stated.

Toterebuka outlined the party’s ongoing efforts in preparation for the upcoming elections, stating that the FDC has successfully nominated a wide range of candidates across different positions.

The party has fielded candidates for 220 Parliamentary seats, 42 LC Chairperson positions, 25 Municipality Mayors, 480 LC 3 candidates, 601 LCV Councilors, 828 Municipality Councilors, and 10,580 LC 1 Chairpersons.

He said that these nominations reflect the party’s commitment to decentralization, empowering local leaders to exercise leadership within the boundaries of the Party Constitution, Electoral Guidelines, and national laws.

The controversy surrounding the Electoral Commission’s directive has raised concerns about the financial burden it could place on candidates, many of whom have already had their academic qualifications verified through other accredited institutions.