A 24-year-old independent presidential candidate and Makerere University graduate Katumba John has been blocked from nominations after presenting cash of Shs20 million instead of receipt.
Katumba who graduated in January this year, faced difficulties on nomination day in that the car he was travelling in got flat tire and the only option he had was to foot in the interest of time.
On reaching the nomination desk at Kyambogo, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission Justice Simon Byabakama said Katumba doesn’t meet all the required guidelines noting the candidate didn’t pay money through the Bank as they are required to do.
“It is not too late, you can go and apply for TIN, pay the money and come back tomorrow for nomination,” Justice Byabakama said.
Mr. Katumba said he wrote to Justice Byabakama asking him about any other possible ways of how he can pay nomination fees because he had no TIN. “In his response Byabakama said I must be employed or owning a registered company and a TIN through which I must pay nomination fees,” Katumba said.
“I am a fresh graduate from Makerere who graduated in January, I don’t have a job, how do you expect me to own a company when I just graduated and got no job?” he asked.
Among others the candidate had met all other requirements such as signatures, 18 years of age, academic qualification for nomination. Upon dishing him out, Katumba said he will not stop but continue struggling in a bid to take over leadership.
“My agenda is to liberate Uganda psychologically, socially, economically and politically,” he said.
Meanwhile, the incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Gen Henry Tumukunde and Gen Mugisha Muntu have all been duly nominated.
