By Jamillah Kemigisa
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Elections Disputes Tribunal on Monday launched a wide-scale hearing process to address a record-breaking 380 petitions challenging the outcomes of the party’s July 17 parliamentary primaries.
The hearings mark the beginning of what analysts are calling one of the most turbulent internal reckonings in the ruling party’s history, following a chaotic open-voting process marred by allegations of vote rigging, ballot stuffing, multiple voting, intimidation, and voter register tampering.
The tribunal, chaired by Senior Counsel John Musiime, is composed of three panels of legal professionals. Each weekday for the next five weeks, approximately 56 complaints will be reviewed at the NRM party headquarters in Kampala, with proceedings beginning at 9:00 a.m.
“Every petitioner will be heard,” Musiime assured the press. “This tribunal is a critical mechanism for restoring faith in the party’s democratic processes.”
President Yoweri Museveni, who has taken a firm stance on the controversy, publicly condemned the NRM Electoral Commission, led by Dr. Tanga Odoi, accusing it of overseeing a fraudulent electoral process. In a strongly worded televised address last week, Museveni declared that Dr. Odoi was unfit to manage any redress process due to his involvement in the initial irregularities.
“Our lawyers advised that Tanga Odoi cannot be the one who corrects a mistake that he made,” Museveni said, directing all dispute resolution efforts to the tribunal instead.
Museveni also revealed that several election officials had already been arrested and charged in connection to electoral fraud, with more criminal referrals expected as the tribunal unearths evidence.
Initially starting with 97 complaints, the volume of petitions surged to over 380 in under a week—an unprecedented number that reflects deep dissatisfaction within the party’s grassroots ranks.
Some aggrieved aspirants have threatened to run as independents or cross to opposition parties if the tribunal fails to deliver justice, raising questions about NRM’s internal cohesion ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“This could either strengthen the NRM’s internal democracy or expose it as a façade,” warned political analyst Dr. Sarah Namukasa.
While the tribunal is a civil mechanism, it has been mandated to refer any criminal elements—such as bribery, violence, voter list falsification, or threats—to relevant security agencies including the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO).
“This tribunal will not entertain impunity,” Musiime emphasized. “Those found culpable will face the full force of the law.”
Final rulings may include nullifications of results, orders for fresh elections, or disciplinary sanctions against implicated officials. The tribunal is expected to conclude its work by September 1, 2025.
As Uganda inches closer to the 2026 national elections, the credibility of the NRM’s internal accountability mechanisms—and the party’s ability to resolve conflicts transparently—could significantly influence its unity, public image, and electoral dominance.
